B♭ Major Scale (Bb)
The Bb major scale (also called Bb Ionian) contains Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G – A. Its key signature has 2 flats: Bb and Eb.
| Note | Bb | C | D | Eb | F | G | A | Bb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
Bb major scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to C and F. Left hand, going up: finger 4 crosses over the thumb to Eb and finger 3 crosses over the thumb to Bb. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
Bb major has 2 flats: Bb and Eb. Its relative minor is G minor, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of Bb major and of G minor.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from Bb |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bb | 0 |
| 2 | C | 2 |
| 3 | D | 4 |
| 4 | Eb | 5 |
| 5 | F | 7 |
| 6 | G | 9 |
| 7 | A | 11 |
Step pattern
The Major scale is built from the pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in Bb Major
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in Bb Major.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | Bb | Bb D F |
| 2 | ii | Cm | C Eb G |
| 3 | iii | Dm | D F A |
| 4 | IV | Eb | Eb G Bb |
| 5 | V | F | F A C |
| 6 | vi | Gm | G Bb D |
| 7 | vii° | Adim | A C Eb |
Other modes on Bb
More scales on Bb
Major scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Bb Major scale?
The Bb Major scale contains Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A, then returns to Bb an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the Bb major scale on piano?
Going up from Bb to Bb, the right hand plays 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 and the left hand plays 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many flats are in Bb major?
Bb major has 2 flats: Bb and Eb.
What is the step pattern of the Major scale?
The Major scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the Bb Major scale?
The diatonic chords are Bb, Cm, Dm, Eb, F, Gm, Adim. Each is built only from notes of the Bb Major scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.