G Messiaen's Mode #4 Charango Scale — Standard
Charango scale in Standard tuning — fretboard diagram
G Messiaen's Mode #4 in Standard — Notes and Intervals
The G Messiaen's Mode #4 scale is a symmetrical scale designed to have no single tonic. On Charango, the notes are G, Ab, A, C, C#, D, Eb, F#. Messiaen used it to create what he called the charm of impossibilities, evoking a sense of spiritual wonder where the listener loses their sense of direction. Commonly used in Contemporary Classical, Film Scores, Experimental. Notable players include Olivier Messiaen. Use for avant-garde composition and film scoring where traditional tonal direction should dissolve.
Notes: G, Ab, A, C, C#, D, Eb, F#
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 2M, 4P, 4A, 5P, 6m, 7M
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 #5 6 b7 8
Formula: H-H-WH-H-H-H-WH-H
Number of notes: 8
Tuning: Standard (G-C-E-A-E)
About Standard Tuning
The charango is a small Andean string instrument with five courses of doubled strings, tuned G-C-E-A-E. Its reentrant tuning — with the 4th course (A) lower than the outer courses — combined with its tiny body and nylon strings produces a distinctive bright, shimmering tone that evokes the high-altitude landscapes of the Andes.
Originally crafted from armadillo shells in Bolivia and Peru, the modern charango is the soul of Andean folk music. Its ten strings (five doubled courses) create a natural chorus effect, and the reentrant tuning produces a compact voicing range where strummed chords have an almost harp-like quality. Groups like Los Kjarkas and Inti-Illimani brought the charango to international audiences, while virtuosos like Jaime Torres and Ernesto Cavour pushed its technical boundaries. The charango is essential in huayño, bailecito, and carnavalito rhythms.
Notable artists: Los Kjarkas, Jaime Torres, Ernesto Cavour, Inti-Illimani, Gustavo Santaolalla
Best for: Andean folk music, South American ensemble playing, and any composition seeking a bright, shimmering Andean texture