B-flat major
B-flat major is a key of the major family. It is based on the root note b. The key of B major is written in musical notation with two ♭ (b, e-flat). The corresponding scale and the fundamental chord of this key (the tonic b-d-f) are also designated with the term B major.
Key classification
| Keys and their accidentals | |||||||||||||||
| Portent: | 7 ♭ | 6 ♭ | 5 ♭ | 4 ♭ | 3 ♭ | 2 ♭ | 1 ♭ | 0 ♭/♯ | 1 ♯ | 2 ♯ | 3 ♯ | 4 ♯ | 5 ♯ | 6 ♯ | 7 ♯ |
| Major keys: | Ces | Ges | Des | As | It | B | F | C | G | D | A | E | H | F# | C sharp |
| Minor keys: | as | it | b | f | c | g | d | a | e | h | F# | cis | gis | dis | ais |
Questions and Answers
Q: What is B♭ major?
A: B♭ major, also known as B-flat major, is a major scale starting on B-flat. It has two flats in its key signature.
Q: What is the relative minor of B♭ major?
A: The relative minor of B♭ major is G minor.
Q: What instruments does this key work well for?
A: This key works particularly well for wind instruments such as clarinets, trumpets, saxophones, and flutes in B-flat.
Q: Why are many concert band pieces written in this or related keys?
A: Many concert band pieces are written in this or related keys because they work well with wind instruments and make it easier to play at actual pitch without transposing.
Q: Who wrote the first symphony in this key?
A: Joseph Haydn wrote the first symphony in this key that anyone had written. However, his brother Michael Haydn had written one earlier.
Q: How many piano concerti did Mozart write in this key?
A: Mozart wrote five piano concerti in this key.
