B Blues Scale
Notes in the B Blues Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | B | 493.883 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | D | 293.665 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | E | 329.628 Hz |
| ♯4 | Blue Note | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | F# | 369.994 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | A | 440.000 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | B | D |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D | E |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | E | F |
| 4 | Half Step (H) | 1 | F | F# |
| 5 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | F# | A |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | A | B |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | B (complex) | other |
| ♭3 | D | D minor | minor |
| 4 | E | E (complex) | other |
| ♯4 | F | F (complex) | other |
| 5 | F# | F# (complex) | other |
| ♭7 | A | A (complex) | other |
Key Signature
5 ♯ — The B key signature uses F#, C#, G#, D#, A#.
B Blues Scale in Practice
The B Blues 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 blues scale adds the flat 5th (blue note) to the minor pentatonic scale, creating the characteristic dissonant tension central to blues, jazz, and rock music.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| F# | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
Related Scales
Guitar: B Blues 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.