C♭ Major
Key Signature
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tonic | C♭ |
| Mode | Major |
| Accidentals | 7 flats |
| Key Signature Notes | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭ |
C♭ major has seven flats and is enharmonically equivalent to B major. It is theoretically constructed and rarely used in practice but appears in some theoretical contexts.
Diatonic Chords
The seven diatonic chords of C♭ Major — each built on a scale degree using only the notes of the key signature:
| Degree | Roman Numeral | Chord Type | Chord |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | Major | C♭ Major |
| 2 | ii | Minor | D♭ Minor |
| 3 | iii | Minor | E♭ Minor |
| 4 | IV | Major | F♭ Major |
| 5 | V | Major | G♭ Major |
| 6 | vi | Minor | A♭ Minor |
| 7 | vii° | Diminished | B♭ Diminished |
Related Keys
- Relative Minor
- A♭ Minor — shares the same key signature.
- Parallel Minor
- B Minor — same tonic, different key signature.
See all key relationships on the Circle of Fifths.
Scales in C♭ Major
Common scales built from the C♭ tonic:
Transposing Instrument Context
B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone) read in D♭ major to sound C♭ Major. E♭ instruments (alto saxophone, E♭ clarinet) read in A♭ major to sound C♭ Major. Flat-key signatures are particularly comfortable for woodwind instruments designed around B♭ and E♭ transpositions.