Hirajoshi Scale

This Hirajoshi scale is a spacious Pentatonic (five-note) scale that evokes images of Japan. Other names for this scale are “Hirachōshi”, “Hira-choshi”, “Kata-kumoi”, and “Yona Nuki mineur” (Japanese: 平調子, literally “tranquil tuning” or “even tuning”).

It's workable on some Native American flutes that are designed to play reliably and in-tune in the upper register. If your flute is not designed for extended range, try this scale without one or both of the upper register notes.

SNAFT Format

<xxx|xxx
<xxx|xxo
<xxx|ooo
<xxo|xoo
<oox|ooo
<oxx|xxh!
<hxx|xxo!

Full Name: Hirajoshi - Extended

Other Names:

• Hirachōshi
• Hira-choshi
• Kata-kumoi
• Yona Nuki mineur

Scale Steps

The first two scales steps of this scale scale are scale 2-1. A note two semitones above the root note on a Native American flute would have to be fingered as , and that fingering does not produce a pleasing note on most Native American flutes.

So, I've combined the first two steps of the scale into a single scale step of three semitones: 3(=2+1). However, I've echoed the regular scale steps in the last two notes in the upper register.

Scale steps: 3(=2+1) - 4 - 1 - 4 - 2 - 1

Sound Samples

Here's a sample of the basic scale as well as a woven scale on an extended-range E minor Native American flute:

Woven Hirajoshi Extended Scale

Clint Goss. E minor flute of Spalted Maple by Barry Higgins.

Nakai Tablature and Notes

Possible Alternate Fingerings on Six-Hole Flutes

Possible Alternate Fingerings on Five-Hole Flutes

Woven Scale Exercise