Scale reference
B♭ major scale
B♭ – C – D – E♭ – F – G – A
The B♭ major scale runs B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A and then back to B♭. It follows the major step pattern — tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone — which is what makes it major rather than any other kind of scale.
It uses each letter name once, which is why it is written with 2 flats.
The notes
The step pattern
Every major scale uses the same sequence of steps. Change the starting note and the pattern is what you keep.
- B♭1tone
- C2tone
- D3semi
- E♭4tone
- F5tone
- G6tone
- A7semi
- B♭8
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Name | Interval from B♭ | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | Tonic | Perfect unison | 0 |
| 2 | C | Supertonic | Major second | 2 |
| 3 | D | Mediant | Major third | 4 |
| 4 | E♭ | Subdominant | Perfect fourth | 5 |
| 5 | F | Dominant | Perfect fifth | 7 |
| 6 | G | Submediant | Major sixth | 9 |
| 7 | A | Leading tone | Major seventh | 11 |
Key signature
B♭ major is the scale of the key of B♭ major, which has 2 flats. The key page lists the seven chords built on these notes.