B♭ (musical note)
B is the eleventh step of the Western chromatic scale.
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 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 and Musical note#History of note names for explanations.Scales
Common scales beginning on B
- B-flat major: B C D E F G A B
- B-flat natural minor: B C D E F G A B
- B-flat harmonic minor: B C D E F G A B
- B-flat melodic minor ascending: B C D E F G A B
- B-flat melodic minor descending: B A G F E D C B
- 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">Jazz scale#Modes of the melodic minor scale">Jazz melodic minor
- B ascending melodic minor: B C D E F G A B
- B Dorian ♭2: B C D E F G A B
- B Lydian augmented: B C D E F G A B
- B Lydian dominant: B C D E F G A B
- B Mixolydian ♭6: B C D E F G A B
- B Locrian ♮2: B C D E F G A B
- B altered: B C D E F G A B
