B♭ Major Scale
Notes in the B♭ Major Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | B♭ | 466.164 Hz |
| 2 | Supertonic | C | 261.626 Hz |
| 3 | Mediant | D | 293.665 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | E♭ | 311.127 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 6 | Submediant | G | 391.995 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | A | 440.000 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 | Half Step (H) | 1 | D | E♭ |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | E♭ | F |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F | G |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | G | A |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | A | B♭ |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | B♭ | major |
| 2 | C | C minor | minor |
| 3 | D | D minor | minor |
| 4 | E♭ | E♭ | major |
| 5 | F | F | major |
| 6 | G | G minor | minor |
| 7 | A | A diminished | diminished |
Key Signature
2 ♭ — The B♭ key signature uses B♭, E♭.
B♭ Major Scale in Practice
The B♭ Major Scale uses the key signature of 2 flats (B♭, E♭). 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, B♭ positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.
The major scale is the foundation of Western music, featuring a bright, happy sound. It follows the whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half step pattern. When played starting on B♭, the 7 notes are B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A. In this key the signature has 2 flats (B♭, E♭). Bb is the concert-pitch key when Bb instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax) play in their native C, making it the most common jazz and band key. Jazz standards in Bb are ubiquitous — tunes like "Autumn Leaves" and "All Blues" sit naturally for horn sections, and the key is a default for jam sessions.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| B♭ | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| E♭ | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: B♭ Major Scale
B♭ 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 B♭ concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in B♭ sound a major sixth lower.