B (B-flat), or, in some European countries, B, is the eleventh step of the Western

chromatic scale The chromatic scale (or twelve-tone scale) is a set of twelve pitches (more completely, pitch classes) used in tonal music, with notes separated by the interval of a semitone. Chromatic instruments, such as the piano, are made to produce the ...

(starting from C). It lies a

diatonic semitone A semitone, also called a minor second, half step, or a half tone, is the smallest interval (music), musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music, and it is considered the most Consonance and dissonance#Dissonance, dissonant when sounde ...

above A and a chromatic semitone below B, thus being

enharmonic In music, two written notes have enharmonic equivalence if they produce the same pitch but are notated differently. Similarly, written intervals, chords, or key signatures are considered enharmonic if they represent identical pitches that ar ...

to A, even though in some

musical tuning In music, there are two common meanings for tuning: * #Tuning practice, Tuning practice, the act of tuning an instrument or voice. * #Tuning systems, Tuning systems, the various systems of Pitch (music), pitches used to tune an instrument, and ...

s, B will have a different sounding pitch than A. B-flat is also enharmonic to C (C-double flat). When calculated in

equal temperament An equal temperament is a musical temperament or Musical tuning#Tuning systems, tuning system that approximates Just intonation, just intervals by dividing an octave (or other interval) into steps such that the ratio of the frequency, frequencie ...

with a reference of A above

middle C C or Do is the first note of the C major scale, the third note of the A minor scale (the relative minor of C major), and the fourth note (G, A, B, C) of the Guidonian hand, commonly pitched around 261.63 Hz. The actual frequency has d ...

as 440 Hz, the

frequency Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit of time. Frequency is an important parameter used in science and engineering to specify the rate of oscillatory and vibratory phenomena, such as mechanical vibrations, audio ...

of the B above middle C is approximately 466.164 Hz. See musical pitch for a discussion of historical variations in frequency. While

orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * String instruments, such as the violin, viola, cello, ...

s tune to an A provided by the oboist, wind ensembles usually tune to a B-flat. In Germany, Russia, Poland, Scandinavia and Slovakia this pitch is designated B, with 'H' used to designate the B-

natural Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the laws, elements and phenomena of the physical world, including life. Although humans are part ...

. Since the 1990s, B-flat is often denoted Bb or "Bess" instead of B in Swedish music textbooks. Natural B is called "B" by Swedish jazz and pop musicians, but still denoted H in classical music. See

B (musical note) B, also known as Si, Ti, or, in some European countries, H, is the seventh note and the twelfth semitone of the fixed-Do solfège. Its enharmonic equivalents are C (C-flat) and A (A-double sharp). When calculated in equal temperament with a ...

and Note names and their history for explanations.

Designation by octave

Scales

Common scales beginning on B

B-flat major 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: Changes needed for ...

: B C D E F G A B * B-flat natural minor: B C D E F G A B * B-flat harmonic minor: B C D E F G A B * B-flat melodic minor ascending: B C D E F G A B * B-flat melodic minor descending: B A G F E D C B

Diatonic scale In music theory a diatonic scale is a heptatonic scale, heptatonic (seven-note) scale that includes five whole steps (whole tones) and two half steps (semitones) in each octave, in which the two half steps are separated from each other by eith ...
s

* B-flat Ionian: B C D E F G A B * B-flat Dorian: B C D E F G A B * B-flat Phrygian: B C D E F G A B * B-flat Lydian: B C D E F G A B * B-flat Mixolydian: B C D E F G A B * B-flat Aeolian: B C D E F G A B * B-flat Locrian: B C D E F G A B

Jazz melodic minor

* B-flat ascending melodic minor: B C D E F G A B * B-flat Dorian ♭2: B C D E F G A B * B-flat Lydian augmented: B C D E F G A B * B-flat Lydian dominant: B C D E F G A B * B-flat Mixolydian ♭6: B C D E F G A B * B-flat Locrian ♮2: B C D E F G A B * B-flat altered: B C D E F G A B

Designation by octave

Scales

Common scales beginning on B

Diatonic scale In music theory a diatonic scale is a heptatonic scale, heptatonic (seven-note) scale that includes five whole steps (whole tones) and two half steps (semitones) in each octave, in which the two half steps are separated from each other by eith ...
s

Jazz melodic minor

References

See also

Designation by octave

Scales

Common scales beginning on B

Diatonic scale In music theory a diatonic scale is a heptatonic scale, heptatonic (seven-note) scale that includes five whole steps (whole tones) and two half steps (semitones) in each octave, in which the two half steps are separated from each other by eith ...s

Jazz melodic minor

References

See also

Diatonic scale In music theory a diatonic scale is a heptatonic scale, heptatonic (seven-note) scale that includes five whole steps (whole tones) and two half steps (semitones) in each octave, in which the two half steps are separated from each other by eith ...
s