STRINGSCALES

D♭ balinese Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, Bbb, C, Db, Ebb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12

A string: Bbb, C, Db, Ebb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bbb at frets 0, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

D string: Ebb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bbb, C, Db, Ebb at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12

G string: Ab, Bbb, C, Db, Ebb, Fb, Gb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11

B string: C, Db, Ebb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bbb at frets 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10

High E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, Bbb, C, Db, Ebb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12

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Db 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

D♭m
E𝄫

bII

E𝄫maj
F♭

bIII+

F♭aug
G♭

iv

G♭m
A♭

V

A♭majb5
B𝄫

bVI

B𝄫maj
C

VII

E𝄫7no5/C

Same notes, different mode

Db 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.

Db neapolitan minorD lydian #6Fb mixolydian augmentedGb romani minorAb locrian dominantA 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 (D), a leading tone (C) above; resolve into Db from both half steps.
  • For the gamelan flavor the name promises, emphasize the pelog-like subset root, b2 (D), b3 (E), V, b6 (A) 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

One fret of capo turns the whole thing into C fingering, so shapes you already own transfer with no relearning. Open low E and high E land a minor third above the root while the A string gives a minor sixth, which means the outer strings stay inside the key without ever supplying a root or fifth. Deepest root is fret 9, low E. First box tops out at 13, so the D string root at 11 still falls under one hand.

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