B Minor Scale
The B minor scale (also called B natural minor or B Aeolian) contains B – C# – D – E – F# – G – A. Its key signature has 2 sharps: F# and C#.
| Note | B | C# | D | E | F# | G | A | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
B minor scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to E. Left hand, going up: finger 4 crosses over the thumb to F#. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
B minor has 2 sharps: F# and C#. Its relative major is D major, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of B minor and of D major.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from B |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | 0 |
| 2 | C# | 2 |
| b3 | D | 3 |
| 4 | E | 5 |
| 5 | F# | 7 |
| b6 | G | 8 |
| b7 | A | 10 |
Step pattern
The Natural Minor scale is built from the pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W (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 B Natural Minor
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 B Natural Minor.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | Bm | B D F# |
| 2 | ii° | C#dim | C# E G |
| 3 | III | D | D F# A |
| 4 | iv | Em | E G B |
| 5 | v | F#m | F# A C# |
| 6 | VI | G | G B D |
| 7 | VII | A | A C# E |
Other modes on B
More scales on B
Natural Minor scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B Natural Minor scale?
The B Natural Minor scale contains B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A, then returns to B an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the B minor scale on piano?
Going up from B to B, the right hand plays 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 and the left hand plays 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many sharps are in B minor?
B minor has 2 sharps: F# and C#.
What is the step pattern of the Natural Minor scale?
The Natural Minor scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the B Natural Minor scale?
The diatonic chords are Bm, C#dim, D, Em, F#m, G, A. Each is built only from notes of the B Natural Minor scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.