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 5 sharps.
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.
- B1tone
- C♯2tone
- D♯3semi
- E4tone
- F♯5tone
- G♯6tone
- A♯7semi
- B8
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 5 sharps. The key page lists the seven chords built on these notes.