Degung Dwi Suara

Degung Dwi Suara, used in Gamelan Pelog Salendro compositions, is derived from the Salendro scale. This theoretically based tuning is usually used by the soloist rebab (stringed instrument) or singers (Sinden) during "multi-scale" performance where the gamelan ensemble plays in Salendro and the solo melody plays using this separate but related scale.

This Degung scale uses five tones with the names La-Ti-Na-Mi-Da. This scale is also called "Degung Dwi Suara” because there are two tones that are the same as Salendro tones, namely: Mi=Tugu, and La=Galimer. See A Guide to Sundanese Gamelan Tuning‍ for more information about how it is derived.

The Ableton tuning library includes examples based on two Pelog Salendro gamelans. The base note of Gamelan Pelog Salendro TBN, tuned in a Javanese style, is Tugu=472Hz, while Gamelan Kyai Kangjeng Fatahillah from Bandung (KF) is tuned lower in a more traditional Sundanese style with Tugu=451Hz. A reminder, "Tugu" from Salendro is the same note as "Mi" in Degung Dwi Suara.

Gamelan to-be-named (TBN)

Gamelan Kyai Kangjeng Fatahillah (KF)

The above will match the black keys on a MIDI piano if using "Black Keys Only" in a Track's MIDI Controller Layout within Live.

An example of the use of the Degung Dwi Suara scale in gamelan Salendro can be heard in the video link: Kembang Gadung‍. The Degung Dwi Suara scale in that example uses a multi-scale Gamelan based on the Salendro scale. But in the next section there is a modulation to the madenda scale.

Today the Degung Tri Suara/Dwi Suara, Mataraman, Madenda and Wisaya scales based on the Salendro scale are not only played/sung by soloists. Many gamelan groups have created variations of the scale that have come to be referred to as "Gamelan Selap" or “Gamelan Multi Laras”. An example can be heard in the video link: Karatagan Wayang Sunda‍.