B Bebop Major Scale

Notes in the B Bebop Major Scale

Interval Pattern

Chords Built on Scale Degrees

Key Signature

5 ♯ — The B key signature uses F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯.

B Bebop Major Scale in Practice

The B Bebop Major Scale uses the key signature of 5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯). B major has five sharps and a bright, somewhat tense quality. Enharmonically equivalent to Cb major, it is used in orchestral writing and some jazz compositions. On guitar, B positions offer open-string resonance for fingering positions for this scale.

The bebop major scale adds a chromatic passing tone (♯5) between the 5th and 6th degrees of the major scale. This creates an 8-note scale that aligns chord tones on strong beats. When played starting on B, the 8 notes are B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G, G♯, A♯. In this key the signature has 5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯). B sits at the boundary of comfortable sharp keys with 5 sharps, often used in orchestral writing for brilliance and in jazz for challenging ii-V-I exercises. Guitarists can play in B using barre chords at the second and seventh frets, and the key is common in pop and R&B music when vocalists prefer its tessitura.

Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments

Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.

Related Scales

Guitar: B Bebop Major Scale Positions

The B key offers 5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like B are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.