STRINGSCALES

F balinese Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, E at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

A string: Bb, C, Db, E, F, Gb, Ab at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11

D string: E, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db at frets 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

G string: Ab, Bb, C, Db, E, F, Gb at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11

B string: C, Db, E, F, Gb, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11

High E string: E, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, E at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

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F 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:

F

i

Fm
G♭

bII

G♭maj
A♭

bIII+

A♭aug
B♭

iv

B♭m
C

V

Cmaj♭5
D♭

bVI

D♭maj
E

VII

G♭7no5/E

Same notes, different mode

F 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.

F neapolitan minorGb lydian #6Ab mixolydian augmentedBb romani minorC locrian dominantDb ionian major #2E ultralocrian

balinese in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

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

How to play F balinese on guitar

With a capo at 1, E fingerings map straight onto this key, so a shape you know there does the work. Only the two E strings fall in the key open, both a major seventh above the root, which means open-string ideas stay limited to those two. Low E holds the lowest root at 1. Ab mixolydian augmented reuses the grip three semitones up, so one box serves both names.

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