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.

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#History of note names for explanations.

Designation by octave
Scientific designation Helmholtz designation Octave name Frequency (Hz)
B♭−1B♭͵͵͵ or ͵͵͵B♭ or BBBB♭Subsubcontra14.568
B♭0B♭͵͵ or ͵͵B♭ or BBB♭Subcontra29.135
B♭1B♭͵ or ͵B♭ or BB♭Contra58.270
B♭2B♭Great116.541
B♭3b♭Small233.082
B♭4b♭′One-lined466.164
B♭5b♭′′Two-lined932.328
B♭6b♭′′′Three-lined1864.655
B♭7b♭′′′′Four-lined3729.310
B♭8b♭′′′′′Five-lined7458.620
B♭9b♭′′′′′′Six-lined14917.240
B♭10b♭′′′′′′′Seven-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
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See also
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