STRINGSCALES

E♭ balinese Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12

A string: Bb, Cb, D, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11

D string: D, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

G string: Ab, Bb, Cb, D, Eb, Fb, Gb at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11

B string: Cb, D, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb at frets 0, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

High E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12

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Eb 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:

E♭

i

E♭m
F♭

bII

F♭maj
G♭

bIII+

G♭aug
A♭

iv

A♭m
B♭

V

B♭majb5
C♭

bVI

C♭maj
D

VII

F♭7no5/D

Same notes, different mode

Eb 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.

Eb neapolitan minorFb lydian #6Gb mixolydian augmentedAb romani minorBb locrian dominantCb ionian major #2D ultralocrian

balinese in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

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

How to play E♭ balinese on guitar

Root at fret 1 on the D string is the one nearest the nut, and the B string adds another at 4. Clamp fret 1 and D shapes take over, which means anything you know in that key transfers straight across. Both E strings ring a minor second over the root and the open D adds the major seventh, so those three stay in key without ever landing on a root. E lydian #6 shares the grip one semitone up.

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