Bb Chromatic Scale
Notes in the Bb Chromatic Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Bb | 466.164 Hz |
| ♭2 | Minor 2nd | B | 493.883 Hz |
| 2 | Major 2nd | C | 261.626 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor 3rd | Db | 277.183 Hz |
| 3 | Major 3rd | D | 293.665 Hz |
| 4 | Perfect 4th | Eb | 311.127 Hz |
| ♯4 | Tritone | E | 329.628 Hz |
| 5 | Perfect 5th | F | 349.228 Hz |
| ♭6 | Minor 6th | Gb | 369.994 Hz |
| 6 | Major 6th | G | 391.995 Hz |
| ♭7 | Minor 7th | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| 7 | Major 7th | A | 440.000 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Bb | B |
| 2 | Half Step (H) | 1 | B | C |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | C | Db |
| 4 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Db | D |
| 5 | Half Step (H) | 1 | D | Eb |
| 6 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Eb | E |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | E | F |
| 8 | Half Step (H) | 1 | F | Gb |
| 9 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Gb | G |
| 10 | Half Step (H) | 1 | G | Ab |
| 11 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Ab | A |
| 12 | Half Step (H) | 1 | A | Bb |
Harmony
The chromatic scale contains all 12 pitch classes and has no diatonic harmony — all chromatic passages use all pitches equally. See individual chord types for specific harmonic structures.
Key Signature
2 ♭ — The Bb key signature uses Bb, Eb.
Bb Chromatic Scale in Practice
The Bb Chromatic Scale uses the key signature of 2 flats (Bb, Eb). Bb major has two flats (Bb, Eb) and is extremely common in jazz and wind ensemble music. It is the home key for Bb instruments such as the trumpet and tenor saxophone. On guitar, Bb positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.
The chromatic scale includes all 12 pitches within an octave, each a half step apart. It has no tonal center and is used as a reference for all other scales and as a compositional device.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bb | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| Db | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| Eb | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| Gb | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
| Ab | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Bb Chromatic Scale
Bb is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce Bb concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in Bb sound a major sixth lower.