B♭ Persian Scale
Notes in the B♭ Persian Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | B♭ | 466.164 Hz |
| ♭2 | Phrygian 2nd | B | 493.883 Hz |
| 3 | Major Mediant | D | 293.665 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | E♭ | 311.127 Hz |
| ♭5 | Tritone | E | 329.628 Hz |
| ♭6 | Minor Submediant | G♭ | 369.994 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | A | 440.000 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | B♭ | B |
| 2 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | B | D |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | D | E♭ |
| 4 | Half Step (H) | 1 | E♭ | E |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | E | G♭ |
| 6 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | G♭ | A |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | A | B♭ |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | B♭ (complex) | other |
| ♭2 | B | B | major |
| 3 | D | D (complex) | other |
| 4 | E♭ | E♭ minor | minor |
| ♭5 | E | E (complex) | other |
| ♭6 | G♭ | G♭ augmented | augmented |
| 7 | A | A (complex) | other |
Key Signature
2 ♭ — The B♭ key signature uses B♭, E♭.
B♭ Persian Scale in Practice
The B♭ Persian 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 Persian scale has a distinct Middle Eastern character with its flat 2nd and 5th degrees combined with a natural major 3rd and leading tone. It evokes the musical traditions of ancient Persian culture. When played starting on B♭, the 7 notes are B♭, B, D, E♭, E, 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 |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| E♭ | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| G♭ | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: B♭ Persian 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.