Common
About the B Major scale
B Major is used for anthems, pop hooks, hymns and anything that should feel uplifting and stable. Think of it as the bright, resolved, "happy" sound that anchors most pop, folk and classical music. It is B Lydian with the fourth lowered.
Its notes are B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, and A♯. The formula is W W H W W W H.
Also called the Ionian mode, Diatonic Major, and Bilawal.
B Major uses five black keys on the piano, C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯, and A♯.
Chords in the key of B Major
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
B over D sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
C sharp minor over E (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D sharp minor over F sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E over G sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F sharp over A sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G sharp minor over B (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
A sharp diminished over C sharp (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in B Major
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
B major seven
C sharp minor seven
D sharp minor seven
E major seven
F sharp seven
G sharp minor seven
A sharp minor seven flat five
Progressions in B Major
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | BB | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | C#C♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | D#D♯ | Major 3rd |
| 4 | EE | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | F#F♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | G#G♯ | Major 6th |
| 7 | A#A♯ | Major 7th |
| Steps | W W H W W W H |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-2-1-2-2-2-1 |
| Degrees | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
Fingering
Standard fingering
| Hand | B | C sharp | D sharp | E | F sharp | G sharp | A sharp | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Practicing it
E is the note the right thumb passes under to reach. The left thumb lands on E, and the hand crosses back over it from there. The hands share their crossing point, since both thumbs land on E. The long fingers cover the black keys C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯, and A♯, anchored by the fourth finger on A♯, and the hand sits forward on the keyboard to keep them there.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Major in other keys
C Major scaleD flat Major scaleD Major scaleE flat Major scaleE Major scaleF Major scaleG flat Major scaleG Major scaleA flat Major scaleA Major scaleB flat Major scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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