STRINGSCALES

D balinese Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, A, Bb, C#, D, Eb at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11

A string: A, Bb, C#, D, Eb, F, G, A at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

D string: D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C#, D at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12

G string: G, A, Bb, C#, D, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12

B string: C#, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb at frets 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

High E string: F, G, A, Bb, C#, D, Eb at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11

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D 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:

D

i

Dm
E♭

bII

E♭maj
F

bIII+

Faug
G

iv

Gm
A

V

Amaj♭5
B♭

bVI

B♭maj
C♯

VII

E♭7no5/C#

Same notes, different mode

D 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.

D neapolitan minorEb lydian #6F mixolydian augmentedG romani minorA locrian dominantBb ionian major #2C# ultralocrian

balinese in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

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

How to play D balinese on guitar

Open D is a root on its own, and the A and G strings add the fifth and fourth above it, so half the open strings sit in the key untouched. Roots climb to 10 on the low E and 5 on the A, which puts a whole box under the fifth-position hand. Faug covers the bIII. Same grip as G romani minor five semitones up, meaning one fingering answers to two names.

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