F Selisir Guitar Scale

F Selisir Scale — Notes and Intervals

The F Selisir scale is the principal pentatonic mode of the Indonesian pelog system, serving as the default sonic world of Javanese and Balinese ceremonial gamelan music. On Guitar, the notes are F, Gb, Ab, C, Db. Its asymmetric intervals have no Western equivalent, and many gamelan orchestras are permanently tuned to this mode for shadow puppet theater, court dances, and temple ceremonies. Commonly used in Gamelan, Indonesian, World, Ambient. Notable players include Lou Harrison, Steve Reich. Use over drones and interlocking ostinato patterns. Traditional gamelan music does not use chords — the scale supports layered melodic patterns at different speeds (irama).

Notes: F, Gb, Ab, C, Db

Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 5P, 6m

Degrees: 1 b2 b3 4 b5

Formula: H-W-4-H-4

Number of notes: 5

Musical Character

The principal pentatonic mode of the Indonesian pelog system. Many gamelan orchestras are permanently tuned to this mode, making it the default sonic world of Javanese and Balinese ceremonial music. Its asymmetric intervals have no Western equivalent.

Genres & Notable Artists

Genres: Gamelan, Indonesian, World, Ambient

Notable players: Lou Harrison, Steve Reich

How to Use the F Selisir Scale

Use over drones and interlocking ostinato patterns. Traditional gamelan music does not use chords — the scale supports layered melodic patterns at different speeds (irama).

Origin & Background

The first and most important pentatonic mode extracted from the 7-note pelog scale of Javanese and Balinese gamelan. Many gamelan ensembles are permanently tuned to Selisir, which serves as the default mode for ceremonial performances, shadow puppet theater (wayang), and court dances.

How to Play F Selisir on Guitar

Place your index finger at fret 1 on the 6th (low E) to find your F root note. With only 5 notes, this scale fits comfortably in a two-notes-per-string pattern across all six strings. Focus on learning a single box shape first before connecting positions.

The F Selisir scale contains 3 flats (Gb, Ab, Db). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.

Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing

Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the F Selisir scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.

This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in F. Try a F5 - C5 - Db5 progression. This scale is especially effective in ambient contexts.

Guitar Tips

On guitar, practice the F Selisir scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications. Aim for a meditative quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.

Related Scales

Selisir is the 1st principal mode of the Pelog system. View F Pelog scale

• F Pelog
• F Tembung
• F Sunaren
• F Balinese

The F Selisir scale contains 5 notes (F, Gb, Ab, C, Db). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges. Practice ascending and descending from the root note to learn the sound of this scale.

CAGED Positions & Patterns for F Selisir

The F Selisir scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 5-note pentatonic scale, 2-notes-per-string patterns are the most ergonomic way to traverse the fretboard. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.

Explore F Selisir Further

• Harmonize the F Selisir scale — triads & 7th chords
• Browse chord progressions
• F Selisir on Ukulele
• F Selisir on Bass
• F Selisir on Piano

Explore F Selisir in Other Tunings

• F Selisir in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
• F Selisir in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
• F Selisir in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
• F Selisir in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
• F Selisir in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
• F Selisir in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
• F Selisir in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
• F Selisir in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
• F Selisir in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
• F Selisir in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
• F Selisir in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
• F Selisir in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
• F Selisir in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
• F Selisir in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)

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