noun
Okinawan scale
A hemitonic pentatonic scale used in traditional Okinawan music, consisting of the notes do, mi, fa, so, ti. Often contrasted with the anhemitonic pentatonic scales of mainland Japan.
See also: 五音音階
琉球音階は、沖縄の民謡によく使われる五音音階の一種です。
The Okinawan scale is a type of pentatonic scale often used in Okinawan folk songs.
五音音階 is the general term for pentatonic scale, while 琉球音階 specifically refers to the Okinawan variant with a hemitonic structure.
Compound of 琉球 (Ryūkyū, 'Okinawa') and 音階 (onkai, 'musical scale'). The term describes the distinctive scale used in traditional Ryukyuan music.