RAV Vast F# In Sen

Those who love Asian vibes and traditional Japanese music will certainly feel the connection with the In Sen RAV Vast.

The In Sen RAV Vast layout duplicates the pentatonic note progression of the traditional Japanese  In Sen scale. This scale is commonly used in shamisen and koto although neither of them is a percussion instrument like the In Sen steel tongue drum by RAV Vast.

The notes of this RAV scale are tuned in 3rd, 4th and high-pitched tongues tuned in the 5th octave. It has only one halftone (F#3-G3) and almost half of the notes are sharp. The In Sen RAV Vast has an augmented range of notes (9+1) which provides more opportunities for improvising and composing music. You can also get the B major scale by changing the keynote when playing the In Sen. 

Just like many other oriental scales, In Sen provides a very distinctive sound that differs dramatically from western harmonies. There’s no division on major and minor modes in Japanese music as the scale intervals are totally different.  Therefore, when playing the In Sen RAV Vast you can create the compositions that will have a more minor or major by changing the playing style and note progressions.

The In Sen has some relative scales in the RAV Vast collection. Its Japanese vibes can remind you of G Minor Pentatonic as these are both pentatonic scales. The In Sen's mood is close to that of the Marmara RAV Vast, however, the A Marmara sounds a little more melancholically.

For whom this scale will work

The In Sen RAV Vast is a great source of inspiration for composing and improvisation. The intervals of this scale can sound unusual to the western ear but that’s what provides an opportunity to think outside the box and find something new. For this reason, we recommend this scale for intermediate and advanced handpan/tongue drum players who feel confident enough with basics and are ready to take the next step. And especially this scale is recommended for those who want to buy something really unique and different from an average steel tongue drum/pan drum available for sale. With the In Sen RAV Vast you can experiment with the Asian playing style when a melody is created of a progression of single notes.

However, the In Sen scale is not only about traditional Japanese music. The In Sen scale became popular in western culture because of the jazz performers - John Coltrane and McCoy Tyner. Now In Sen scale is popular among jazz improvisers, so you can create a really good duet with piano and guitar musicians who love the refreshing sound of this scale.

A special tip for those who plan to record music with the In Sen RAV Vast. The wind chimes will create a perfect background sound as both instruments are tuned in the same scale and the overall melody will be smooth and enchanting (and both are percussion instruments).

In Sen is one of the ‘top-shelf’ products among the RAV Vast drums available for sale. That’s why we recommend it for seasoned players as the price is a little bit higher than of beginner-friendly RAV Vast drums.