ryo

musical scale

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July 13, 2026

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The ryo scale is one of four traditional Japanese scales, alongside ritsu, yo, and in. It is similar to the Chinese seven-tone scale and forms a pentatonic core. In practice, the ryo scale can be constructed on three pitches: D (ichikotsu), G (sōjō), and E (taishiki). This scale, along with the ritsu scale, demonstrates the use of two seven-tone scales in ancient Japanese music, each with a pentatonic foundation. A scale is a sequence of musical notes, tones, or intervals that divide an octave.12

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Japanese music
Tonal system
>ryo scale shows no great difference from the Chinese seven-tone scale. The ritsu scale, however, seems to reveal the early presence of an indigenous Japanese tonal ideal with the placement of its half steps.
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>ryo scale shows no great difference from the Chinese seven-tone scale. The ritsu scale, however, seems to reveal the early presence of an indigenous Japanese tonal ideal with the placement of its half steps.
Read More