STRINGSCALES

C balinese Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, Ab, B, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11

A string: B, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab at frets 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

D string: Eb, F, G, Ab, B, C, Db at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11

G string: G, Ab, B, C, Db, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

B string: B, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, B at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

High E string: F, G, Ab, B, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11

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C 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:

C

i

Cm
D♭

bII

D♭maj
E♭

bIII+

E♭aug
F

iv

Fm
G

V

Gmaj♭5
A♭

bVI

A♭maj
B

VII

D♭7no5/B

Same notes, different mode

C 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.

C neapolitan minorDb lydian #6Eb mixolydian augmentedF romani minorG locrian dominantAb ionian major #2B ultralocrian

balinese in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

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

How to play C balinese on guitar

Open G and B both fall in the key, at the perfect fifth and major seventh, so that pair can ring under everything you fret above it. Nearest the nut, a root waits at fret 1 on the B string. Lowest root is fret 8 on the low E, where the E-shape anchor also sits, which lets the first box form without a shift. C neapolitan minor takes the same fingering.

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