Bb Minor
Key Signature
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tonic | Bb |
| Mode | Minor |
| Accidentals | 5 flats |
| Key Signature Notes | Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb |
Bb minor has five flats and an austere, somber quality. It is used in Romantic orchestral and piano literature and is the enharmonic equivalent of A# minor.
Diatonic Chords
The seven diatonic chords of Bb Minor — each built on a scale degree using only the notes of the key signature:
| Degree | Roman Numeral | Chord Type | Chord |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | Minor | Bb Minor |
| 2 | ii° | Diminished | C Diminished |
| 3 | III | Major | Db Major |
| 4 | iv | Minor | Eb Minor |
| 5 | v | Minor | F Minor |
| 6 | VI | Major | Gb Major |
| 7 | VII | Major | Ab Major |
Related Keys
- Relative Major
- Db Major — shares the same key signature.
- Parallel Major
- Bb Major — same tonic, different key signature.
See all key relationships on the Circle of Fifths.
Scales in Bb Minor
Common scales built from the Bb tonic:
Transposing Instrument Context
Bb instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone) read in C minor to sound Bb Minor. Eb instruments (alto saxophone, Eb clarinet) read in G minor to sound Bb Minor. Flat-key signatures are particularly comfortable for woodwind instruments designed around Bb and Eb transpositions.