B Ichikosucho Bass Scale
Bass scale — fretboard diagram
B Ichikosucho Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Ichikosucho scale is an ancient Japanese court music scale used in Gagaku ceremonies. On Bass, it contains the notes B, C#, D#, E, F, F#, G#, A#. It has a Lydian-like structure and is used to evoke a sense of imperial majesty and historical tradition. Commonly used in Japanese, Classical, Film Scores. Notable players include Takemitsu, Hosokawa. Use over Maj7#11 in Japanese-influenced compositions. Adds cultural authenticity to Eastern-themed scores.
Notes: B, C#, D#, E, F, F#, G#, A#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4P, 5d, 5P, 6M, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Formula: W-W-H-H-H-W-W-H
Number of notes: 8
How to Play B Ichikosucho on Bass
On bass, locate B on the A string at fret 2. Use a one-finger-per-fret approach starting from the root and span two to three strings. Keep your fretting hand relaxed and practice shifting between positions cleanly.
The B Ichikosucho scale contains 5 sharps (C#, D#, F#, G#, A#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the B Ichikosucho scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (B-D#, C#-E) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on B to let the characteristic intervals of the Ichikosucho scale come through clearly.
Bass Tips
Practice the B Ichikosucho scale on bass using only your index and ring fingers for a two-finger-per-string approach, then switch to one-finger-per-fret. Both techniques are essential for different musical situations.
The B Ichikosucho scale contains 8 notes (B, C#, D#, E, F, F#, G#, A#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for B Ichikosucho
The B Ichikosucho scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 8-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.