B Balinese Scale
B Balinese contains 5 notes: B, C, D, G♭, G. It has 1 flat: G♭. The step pattern is H–W–4h–H–4h.
A 5-note scale from Indonesian gamelan music that sounds completely unlike any Western scale. Its half-step intervals create a metallic, bell-like, shimmering quality. Debussy was so captivated by hearing gamelan at the 1889 Paris Exposition that its influence runs through much of impressionist music.
The formula is 1, b2, b3, 5, b6. One of two main tuning systems in Indonesian gamelan (the other being Slendro). The two half-step intervals (root to b2 and 5 to b6) create a distinctive "clashing" quality that, in gamelan ensembles, produces shimmering beating patterns between slightly detuned instrument pairs. On Western equal-tempered instruments, it's an approximation of the original non-12-tone tuning.
A fantastic exotic alternative to the standard minor pentatonic. The two half-step pairs create tight, expressive fingerings that work well with slides and vibrato. Try it over minor chords or use specialized voicings like Gmaj7/B over B Balinese for a more authentic harmonic context. Clean tones with reverb bring out its bell-like quality.
- Pagodes - Debussy