B♭ (musical note)

B (B-flat; also called si bémol) is the eleventh step of the Western chromatic scale (starting from C). It lies a diatonic semitone above A and a chromatic semitone below B, thus being enharmonic to A, even though in some musical tunings, B will have a different sounding pitch than A. B-flat is also enharmonic to C.

B Flat

When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of the B above middle C is approximately 466.164 Hz. See pitch (music) for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.

While orchestras tune to an A provided by the oboist, wind ensembles usually tune to a B-flat provided by a tuba, horn, or clarinet.

In Germany, Russia, Poland and Scandinavia, this pitch is designated B, with 'H' used to designate the B-natural. 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) and Musical note: Note names and their history for explanations.

Designation by octave

Scientific designation Helmholtz designation Octave name Frequency (Hz)
B−1B͵͵͵ or ͵͵͵B or BBBBSubsubcontra14.568
B0B͵͵ or ͵͵B or BBBSubcontra29.135
B1B͵ or ͵B or BBContra58.27
B2BGreat116.541
B3bSmall233.082
B4bOne-lined466.164
B5bTwo-lined932.328
B6bThree-lined1864.655
B7bFour-lined3729.31
B8bFive-lined7458.62
B9bSix-lined14917.24
B10bSeven-lined29834.481

Scales

Common scales beginning on B

Diatonic scales

  • B Ionian: B C D E F G A B
  • B Dorian: B C D E F G A B
  • B Phrygian: B C D E F G A B
  • B Lydian: B C D E F G A B
  • B Mixolydian: B C D E F G A B
  • B Aeolian: B C D E F G A B
  • B Locrian: B C D E F G A B

Jazz melodic minor

See also

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