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 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:

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. 50 No. 1
  • 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
  • Max Bruch
  • Octet
  • Modest Mussorgsky
  • "Promenade" from Pictures at an Exhibition
  • Ernest Chausson
  • Symphony
  • Vincent d'Indy
  • Ottorino Respighi
  • "The Pines of the Villa Borghese" from Pines of Rome
  • 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

References