Japanese mode

Intro
The organization of notes to create a
musical scale has many different
applications in different cultures and types
of music.[1] One of the most common
approaches to organizing musical
structures is known as the Mode or
Mode(s).[1]Since the Heian Period, there
has been disagreement and contention
between musical scholars regarding
Japanese music and modal theory.[2]
There has long been a debate about
Japanese modes and what defines them,
to this day there isn't a single modal theory
that can completely explain Japanese
music.[2] Music Scales are critical in
clarifying and identifying musical pieces,
however, there has been no single scale
model that can identify all Japanese music
into one classification or category of
music.[3] In order to be understood by
western scholars, The different variations
of Japanese modal scales are often
compared to the western Major Scale.[3]

The most common version of the

Japanese mode is a somewhat inaccurate
term for a pentatonic musical scale which
is used commonly in traditional Japanese
music. The intervals of the scale are major
second, minor third, major fifth, and minor
sixth (for example, the notes A, B, C, E, F
and up to A) - which is essentially a natural
minor scale in Western music theory
without the subdominant and subtonic,
which is the same operation performed on
the major scale to produce the pentatonic
major scale.[4] The more correct term
would be kumoijoshi, as given by William P.
Malm for one of the three tuning scales of
the koto[4] adapted from shamisen music.

In addition to being used almost

exclusively in traditional Japanese
compositions, it is found frequently in
video game music and the pieces of
contemporary composers such as Anne
Boyd.
Different Types of Japanese
Scales and Modes
Gagaku Scale: Introduced from China
during the Nara Period, but then later
modified during the Heian Period. The
Gagaku Scale is a heptatonic scale,
created from 12 chromatic tones and
assembled by fifths.[5]

References
1. Harich-Scheider, Eta (1973). A History
of Japanese Music. London: Oxford
 University Press. pp. 502–510. ISBN 0-
19-316203-2.
2. Tokita, Alison-McQueen (Winter 1996).
"Mode and Scale, Modulation and
Tuning in Japanese Shamisen Music:
The Case of Kiyomoto Narrative" .
Ethnomusicology. 40: 1–33 – via
JSTOR.
3. Kawase, Akihiro (2013). "Construction
and Verification of the Scale Detection
Method for Traditional Japanese
Music" . International Journal of
Affective Engineering. 12: 309–315 –
via JSTAGE.
 4. Harich-Scheider, Eta (1973) [1922]. A
History of Japanese Music. London:
Oxford University Press. p. 520.
ISBN 0-19-316203-2.
5. The Harvard Dictionary of Music.
Harvard University Press. 2003.
ISBN 0674011635.

External links
Examples of the Japanese mode from
train melodies on the Tōzai Line (Kyoto)
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