STRINGSCALES

G balinese Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb at frets 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

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

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

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

B string: C, D, Eb, F#, G, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11

High E string: F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb at frets 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

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G 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:

G

i

Gm
A♭

bII

A♭maj
B♭

bIII+

B♭aug
C

iv

Cm
D

V

Dmaj♭5
E♭

bVI

E♭maj
F♯

VII

A♭7no5/F#

Same notes, different mode

G 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.

G neapolitan minorAb lydian #6Bb mixolydian augmentedC romani minorD locrian dominantEb ionian major #2F# ultralocrian

balinese in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

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

How to play G balinese on guitar

G rings open as the root and the D string adds the fifth, so the bottom of a phrase can drop onto open strings mid-line. Both E strings put a root at 3, which is also where the E-shape anchor sits, so barre and scale line up. Roots continue at 10 on the A and 8 on the B. Gm heads the chord set.

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