STRINGSCALES

B♭ balinese Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, Gb, A, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11

A string: A, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F, Gb, A at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

D string: Eb, F, Gb, A, Bb, Cb, Db at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11

G string: A, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F, Gb at frets 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

B string: Cb, Db, Eb, F, Gb, A, Bb, Cb at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12

High E string: F, Gb, A, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11

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Bb balinese

The balinese scale as catalogued here is a seven note set identical to the neapolitan minor scale: root, flat 2nd, flat 3rd, 4th, 5th, flat 6th, major 7th. The name nods to the pelog-flavored half steps around the root and 5th rather than to an actual gamelan tuning, which does not fit Western frets. Expect a dark minor sound with an unexpectedly bright leading tone.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B♭

i

B♭m
C♭

bII

C♭maj
D♭

bIII+

D♭aug
E♭

iv

E♭m
F

V

Fmaj♭5
G♭

bVI

G♭maj
A

VII

C♭7no5/A

Same notes, different mode

Bb balinese uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

Bb neapolitan minorCb lydian #6Db mixolydian augmentedEb romani minorF locrian dominantGb ionian major #2A ultralocrian

balinese in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • The set is identical to neapolitan minor: phrygian darkness below (B), a leading tone (A) above; resolve into Bb from both half steps.
  • For the gamelan flavor the name promises, emphasize the pelog-like subset root, b2 (B), b3 (Db), V, b6 (Gb) in ostinato patterns.
  • Alternate two interlocking one-octave patterns, one low, one high, imitating gamelan kotekan on guitar.
  • Let the major 7th (A) appear only as the final note before the root; rationing it keeps the exotic frame intact.

How to play B♭ balinese on guitar

Nut-adjacent root sits at fret 1 on the A string, so the first shape starts almost open even though nothing rings free. Only the A and B strings hold a scale note when open, at the major seventh and minor second. Lowest root is fret 6 on the low E, and the box built off it stops at 10, which means the B string root at 11 needs the next position. Five flats here.

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