Bb Iwato (Japanese)
A Japanese pentatonic scale, 1–b2–4–b5–b7; the minor 2nds 1–b2 and 4–b5 intensify tension.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- Bb Iwato (Japanese)
- Family
- Pentatonic scales
- Note count
- 5
- Step formula
- H – 4 – H – 4 – W
- Numeric formula
- 0-1-4-1-4-2
Notes & degrees
1Bbroot
b2Cbminor 2nd
4Ebperfect 4th
b5Fbdim 5th
b7Abminor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- A Japanese pentatonic scale, 1–b2–4–b5–b7; the minor 2nds 1–b2 and 4–b5 intensify tension.
- Application in music
- The lowered 2nd tends toward the tonic and the diminished 5th toward the perfect 5th; both emphasise instability.
- Interval formula
- BbHCb2WEbHFb2WAb
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IBbnominal centretonic
Typical resolutions & tensions
IBbBb
IICbCb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how Bb Iwato (Japanese) looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.