Japanese traditional music utilizes various scales, particularly pentatonic scales. The in scale contains semitones between D, Eb, and Bb, and is used for instruments like the koto and shamisen. The yo scale lacks semitones and contains the notes D, E, G, A, B, finding use in folk songs. Students are tasked with playing the Chinese and Japanese scales on keyboards to learn their note structures. The document also provides instruction on finding and naming notes on the piano, identifying C as the starting point of the musical alphabet and explaining how sharps and flats alter the pitch of notes.

1. Japanese Traditional
Music
2nd Quarter
Lesson 2

2. General Characteristics of
Japanese Traditional Music
• Pitch and Scales
• diversity of scale tuning systems
• pentatonic (five-toned) scales:
– the in scale with semitones D Eb G A Bb
• koto and shamisen.
– the yo scale without semitones, for example, D
EGAB
• folk songs and early popular songs—What
is new about the more recent scale theory?

3. Task:
Play the Chinese Scale and Japanese Scale
(In and Yo) on the Keyboards.
Chinese Scale : C D E G A C
Japanese Scale:
In :D Eb G A Bb
Yo:D E G A B

4. Names of White Keys
The white keys on the piano are named after
seven letters of the alphabet. They are A, B, C,
D, E, F, and G. However, the musical alphabet
starts with the letter C, not A. This is because C
is the most basic note in music. As you continue
with Zebra Keys lessons, you will find out more
on why this is true. So, the musical alphabet
consists of C, D, E, F, G, A, B. Let's use the
musical alphabet to name the white keys on the
piano keyboard!

5. Finding C
Remember, the musical alphabet begins at
note C, not A. So let's find C. Locate any
group of two black keys. The white key
that is to the left of the group of two black
keys is C.

6. Notes of the Black Piano Keys
• Sharp (#)
A sharp makes a note a half step higher in pitch.
On the keyboard, a note’s sharp is the black key
directly to its right
• Flat (b)
A flat makes a note a half step lower in pitch.
On the keyboard, a note’s flat is the black key
directly to its left.

7. Black Keys