B Major Pentatonic Scale
Notes in the B Major Pentatonic Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | B | 493.883 Hz |
| 2 | Supertonic | C# | 277.183 Hz |
| 3 | Mediant | D# | 311.127 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | F# | 369.994 Hz |
| 6 | Submediant | G# | 415.305 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B | C# |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | C# | D# |
| 3 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | D# | F# |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F# | G# |
| 5 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | G# | B |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | B (complex) | other |
| 2 | C# | C# (complex) | other |
| 3 | D# | D# (complex) | other |
| 5 | F# | F# (complex) | other |
| 6 | G# | G# (complex) | other |
Key Signature
5 ♯ — The B key signature uses F#, C#, G#, D#, A#.
B Major Pentatonic Scale in Practice
The B Major Pentatonic 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 major pentatonic scale uses five notes from the major scale, omitting the 4th and 7th degrees. It has a bright, open sound widely used in folk, country, and pop 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 |
| C# | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| D# | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| F# | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| G# | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
Related Scales
Guitar: B Major Pentatonic 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.