B♭ Hirajoshi
Japanese 5-note dark scale — 1 2 ♭3 5 ♭6. Characteristically pensive.
Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)
What notes are in the B♭ Hirajoshi scale?
The B♭ Hirajoshi scale uses the notes B♭, C, D♭, F, G♭ (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).
What's the Hirajoshi scale formula?
The Hirajoshi scale follows the interval pattern W H 4 H 4, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on B♭ to get the B♭ Hirajoshi scale.
What chords work over B♭ Hirajoshi?
Try chord pairings derived from the scale's third, fifth, and seventh degrees as roots — they share the most diatonic notes.
How do I finger B♭ Hirajoshi on Piano?
On piano, scales typically use a 1-2-3 / 1-2-3-4 thumb-under pattern for white-key scales. Black-key scales (F♯, G♭, etc.) shift the thumb-under positions onto white keys for ergonomic clearance. Hanon Exercise No. 1 and Czerny Op. 599 No. 1 work through the canonical pattern.
When would I use the Hirajoshi scale?
Japanese 5-note dark scale — 1 2 ♭3 5 ♭6. Characteristically pensive.