C# Balinese Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagram
C# Balinese Scale — Notes and Intervals
The C# Balinese scale is a traditional five-note tuning from the Gamelan tradition, also known as Pelog. On Ukulele, it contains the notes C#, D, E, F#, G#, A, C. 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: C#, D, E, F#, G#, A, C
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 C# Balinese on Ukulele
On ukulele, find C# on the open strings or work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 7 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The C# Balinese scale contains 3 sharps (C#, F#, G#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Practice the C# Balinese scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 80 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 7 notes of the scale.
Exotic scales like the Balinese often work best as a melodic layer over a single root drone on C#. Let the unique intervals speak for themselves without frequent chord changes.
Ukulele Tips
The compact fretboard of the ukulele makes the C# Balinese scale easy to visualize in a single position. Use this to your advantage by memorizing the scale shape relative to chord shapes you already know.
The C# Balinese scale contains 7 notes (C#, D, E, F#, G#, A, C). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for C# Balinese
The C# 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 C# Balinese Further
- Harmonize the C# Balinese scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- C# Balinese on Guitar
- C# Balinese on Bass
- C# Balinese on Piano