B♭ (musical note)

For other uses, see B-flat.

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 although 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 (or enharmonically C). 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) for an explanation.

Designation by octave

Scientific designation Helmholtz designation Bilinear music notation Octave name Frequency (Hz)
B-1 B͵͵͵ or ͵͵͵B or BBBB (-uB) Subsubcontra 14.568
B0 B͵͵ or ͵͵B or BBB (-vB) Subcontra 29.135
B1 B͵ or ͵B or BB (-wB) Contra 58.270
B2 B (-xB) Great 116.541
B3 b (-yB) Small 233.082
B4 b (zB) One-lined 466.164
B5 b (yB) Two-lined 932.328
B6 b (xB) Three-lined 1864.655
B7 b (wB) Four-lined 3729.310
B8 b (vB}) Five-lined 7458.620
B9 b (uB) Six-lined 14917.240
B10 b (tB) Seven-lined 29834.481

Scales

Common scales beginning on B

Diatonic scales

Jazz Melodic Minor

See also

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