Hirajōshi scale or hira-choshi (Japanese: 平調子, Hepburn: hirachōshi, chōshi = tuning and hira = even, level, tranquil, standard or regular) is a tuning scale adapted from shamisen music by Yatsuhashi Kengyō for tuning of the koto.[1] “The hirajoshi, kumoijoshi, and kokinjoshi ’scales’ are Western derivations of the koto tunings of the same names. These scales have been used by rock and jazz guitarists in search of ’new’ sounds.“