B♭ Minor
Key Signature
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tonic | B♭ |
| Mode | Minor |
| Accidentals | 5 flats |
| Key Signature Notes | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭ |
B♭ 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 B♭ Minor — each built on a scale degree using only the notes of the key signature:
| Degree | Roman Numeral | Chord Type | Chord |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | Minor | B♭ Minor |
| 2 | ii° | Diminished | C Diminished |
| 3 | III | Major | D♭ Major |
| 4 | iv | Minor | E♭ Minor |
| 5 | v | Minor | F Minor |
| 6 | VI | Major | G♭ Major |
| 7 | VII | Major | A♭ Major |
Related Keys
- Relative Major
- D♭ Major — shares the same key signature.
- Parallel Major
- B♭ Major — same tonic, different key signature.
See all key relationships on the Circle of Fifths.
Scales in B♭ Minor
Common scales built from the B♭ tonic:
Transposing Instrument Context
B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone) read in C minor to sound B♭ Minor. E♭ instruments (alto saxophone, E♭ clarinet) read in G minor to sound B♭ Minor. Flat-key signatures are particularly comfortable for woodwind instruments designed around B♭ and E♭ transpositions.