B-flat major

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title: "B-flat major" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["musical-keys", "major-scales", "compositions-in-b-flat-major"] description: "Music scale based on B-flat" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-flat_major" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Music scale based on B-flat ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical scale"]

Field	Value
name	B-flat major
{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 \omit Score.TimeSignature \key bes \major s16 \clef bass \key bes \major s^"" }
relative	G minor
parallel	B-flat minor
dominant	F major
subdominant	E-flat major
first_pitch	B
second_pitch	C
third_pitch	D
fourth_pitch	E
fifth_pitch	F
sixth_pitch	G
seventh_pitch	A
::

| name=B-flat major { \magnifyStaff #3/2 \omit Score.TimeSignature \key bes \major s16 \clef bass \key bes \major s^"" } | relative=G minor | parallel=B-flat minor | dominant=F major | subdominant=E-flat major | first_pitch=B | second_pitch=C | third_pitch=D | fourth_pitch=E | fifth_pitch=F | sixth_pitch=G | seventh_pitch=A B-flat major is a major scale based on B, with pitches B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. Its key signature has two flats. Its relative minor is G minor and its parallel minor is B-flat minor.

The B-flat major scale is: \header { tagline = ##f } scale = \relative b { \key bes \major \omit Score.TimeSignature bes^"B♭ natural major scale" c d es f g a bes a g f es d c bes2 \clef F \key bes \major } \score { { } \layout { } \midi { } }

Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with accidentals as necessary. The B-flat harmonic major and melodic major scales are:

\header { tagline = ##f } scale = \relative b { \key bes \major \omit Score.TimeSignature bes^"B♭ harmonic major scale" c d es f ges a bes a ges f es d c bes2 \clef F \key bes \major } \score { { } \layout { } \midi { } } \header { tagline = ##f } scale = \relative b { \key bes \major \omit Score.TimeSignature bes^"B♭ melodic major scale (ascending and descending)" c d es f g a bes as ges f es d c bes2 \clef F \key bes \major } \score { { } \layout { } \midi { } }

Many transposing instruments are pitched in B-flat major, including the clarinet, trumpet, tenor saxophone, and soprano saxophone. As a result, B-flat major is one of the most popular keys for concert band compositions.

Scale degree chords

The scale degree chords of B major are:

• Tonic – B major
• Supertonic – C minor
• Mediant – D minor
• Subdominant – E major
• Dominant – F major
• Submediant – G minor
• Leading-tone – A diminished

Notable classical compositions

• François Couperin
  • Les Barricades Mystérieuses
• Johann Sebastian Bach
  • Brandenburg Concerto No. 6
• Luigi Boccherini
  • Cello Concerto No. 9, G. 482
• Joseph Haydn
  • Symphony No. 85 (La Reine)
  • Symphony No. 98
  • Symphony No. 102
  • Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Cello, Oboe and Bassoon
  • String Quartet Op. 76 No. 4 (Sunrise)
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  • Symphony No. 2
  • Symphony No. 5
  • Symphony No. 24
  • Symphony No. 33
  • Piano Concerto No. 6
  • Piano Concerto No. 15
  • Piano Concerto No. 18
  • Piano Concerto No. 27
  • String Quintet No. 1
  • String Quartet No. 17 (Hunt)
  • Violin Sonata No. 32
  • Piano Sonata No. 3
  • Piano Sonata No. 13 (Linz)
  • Piano Sonata No. 17
• Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Piano Concerto No. 2
  • Symphony No. 4
  • String Quartet, Op 18 No. 6
  • String Quartet Op. 130
  • The Große Fuge for string quartet
  • Piano Sonata, Op. 22
  • Piano Sonata, Op. 106 (Hammerklavier)
  • Piano Trio, Op. 97 (Archduke)
• Franz Schubert
  • Impromptu No. 3, Op. 142
  • Mass No. 3
  • Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, D. 965
  • Piano Sonata No. 21, D. 960
  • Piano Trio No. 1, D. 898
  • Symphony No. 2
  • Symphony No. 5
• Felix Mendelssohn
  • Symphony No. 2 (Lobgesang)
  • String Quintet No. 2
  • Cello Sonata No. 1
• Frédéric Chopin
  • Variations on "Là ci darem la mano" for piano and orchestra, Op. 2
  • Mazurka Op. 7, No. 1
  • Prelude Op. 28, No. 21 "Sunday"
  • Polonaise Op. 71, No. 2
• Robert Schumann
  • Symphony No. 1, Op. 38, (Frühling)
  • The second, fourth and sixth movement of Kreisleriana, Op. 16
  • Humoreske for piano, Op. 20
  • Faschingsschwank aus Wien for piano, Op. 26
• Franz Liszt
  • Transcendental Étude No. 5 (Feux follets) from Transcendental Études
• Anton Bruckner
  • Symphony No. 5
• Johannes Brahms
  • Piano Concerto No. 2
  • String Quartet No. 3
  • String Sextet No. 1
  • Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel
  • Variations on a Theme by Haydn
• Bohuslav Martinů
  • Symphony no. 1
• Sergei Prokofiev
  • Symphony No. 5
  • Piano Concerto No. 4
  • Piano Sonata No. 7
  • Piano Sonata No. 8
• Dmitri Shostakovich
  • String Quartet No. 5
• Modest Mussorgsky
  • "Promenade" from Pictures at an Exhibition
• Ottorino Respighi
  • "The Pines of the Villa Borghese" from Pines of Rome

References

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