A# Balinese Mandolin Scale
Mandolin scale — fretboard diagram
A# Balinese Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A# Balinese scale is a traditional five-note tuning from the Gamelan tradition, also known as Pelog. On Mandolin, it contains the notes A#, B, C#, D#, F, F#, A. It creates a dark, meditative, and distinctively Southeast Asian atmosphere that sounds haunting and shimmering. Commonly used in Gamelan, World, Ambient, Film Scores. Notable players include Colin McPhee, Steve Reich. Use over drones and sustained bass notes. Traditional Gamelan music doesn't use chords — the scale is inherently melodic and interlocking.
Notes: A#, B, C#, D#, F, F#, A
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7M
Degrees: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 7
Formula: H-W-W-W-H-WH-H
Number of notes: 7
How to Play A# Balinese on Mandolin
Begin by locating A# on your instrument and play through the 7 notes of the Balinese scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The A# Balinese scale contains 4 sharps (A#, C#, D#, F#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the A# Balinese 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.
Exotic scales like the Balinese often work best as a melodic layer over a single root drone on A#. Let the unique intervals speak for themselves without frequent chord changes.
Mandolin Tips
Practice the A# Balinese scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 7 notes before building speed.
The A# Balinese scale contains 7 notes (A#, B, C#, D#, F, F#, A). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Mandolin with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A# Balinese
The A# Balinese 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 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore A# Balinese Further
- Browse chord progressions
- A# Balinese on Guitar
- A# Balinese on Ukulele
- A# Balinese on Bass
- A# Balinese on Piano