C Yo (Japanese)
A Japanese pentatonic scale, 1–2–4–5–6, with no semitones; an open, stable sound.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- C Yo (Japanese)
- Family
- Pentatonic scales
- Note count
- 5
- Step formula
- W – W+H – W – W – W+H
- Numeric formula
- 0-2-3-2-2-3
Notes & degrees
1Croot
2Dmajor 2nd
4Fperfect 4th
5Gperfect 5th
6Amajor 6th
Construction
- Overview
- A Japanese pentatonic scale, 1–2–4–5–6, with no semitones; an open, stable sound.
- Application in music
- With no 3rd, it fixes neither major nor minor; 4th, 5th and 6th support an open modal sound.
- Interval formula
- CWDWHFWGWA
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
ICpoint of resttonic
VGsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
ICC
IIDD
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how C Yo (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.