B Melodic Minor Scale
Notes in the B Melodic Minor Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | B | 493.883 Hz |
| 2 | Supertonic | C# | 277.183 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | D | 293.665 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | E | 329.628 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | F# | 369.994 Hz |
| 6 | Major Submediant | G# | 415.305 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | A# | 466.164 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B | C# |
| 2 | Half Step (H) | 1 | C# | D |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | 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 minor | minor |
| 2 | C# | C# minor | minor |
| ♭3 | D | D augmented | augmented |
| 4 | E | E | major |
| 5 | F# | F# | major |
| 6 | G# | G# diminished | diminished |
| 7 | A# | A# diminished | diminished |
Key Signature
5 ♯ — The B key signature uses F#, C#, G#, D#, A#.
B Melodic Minor Scale in Practice
The B Melodic Minor 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 melodic minor scale raises both the 6th and 7th degrees ascending to smooth out the augmented second of harmonic minor. In jazz it is used in both directions.
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 | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| F# | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| G# | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| A# | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
Related Scales
Guitar: B Melodic Minor 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.