(e.g., in C major: F – G – Em – Am)

Before we explore the unique divergence, we must establish the baseline. The fundamental building blocks of Japanese harmony are identical to Western harmony: and the major/minor diatonic scales .

—combines traditional Japanese modal concepts with Western functional harmony. Amazon.com Core Theoretical Concepts

: Just as Japanese art values empty space ( ma ), its harmony often emphasizes the space between notes, favoring intervals like the perfect fourth over the third. The Building Blocks: Traditional Scales