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Circle of fifths

Key of B♭ major

Key signature: 2 flats (B♭, E♭). Scale: B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A. Chords: B♭, Cm, Dm, E♭, F, Gm, Adim.

Chords in B♭ major

Each scale degree has a triad and a four-note seventh chord. Tap a chord for the guitar shape.

IB♭B♭maj7iiCmCm7iiiDmDm7IVE♭E♭maj7VFF7viGmGm7vii°AdimAm7b5

Capo tip: on guitar, put a capo on fret 3 and play the shapes of G major – then 4 of the main chords are easy open shapes (0 without a capo).

The B♭ major scale

B♭ICiiDiiiE♭IVFVGviAvii°
B♭ major scale on pianoCDFGACDFGAE♭B♭E♭B♭
B♭ major scale on the guitar fretboardFGAB♭CDE♭AB♭CDE♭FGADE♭FGAB♭CDGAB♭CDE♭FGCDE♭FGAB♭FGAB♭CDE♭357912

Full scale page and other scales from this note →

Related keys

Relative minorG minorsame key signatureParallel minorB♭ minorsame tonicA fifth upF majorone more sharpA fifth downE♭ majorone more flat

Common progressions in B♭ major

ProgressionChordsGenerator
Pop progression (Axis)B♭ – F – Gm – E♭Open in generator
Sensitive pop (vi–IV–I–V)Gm – E♭ – B♭ – FOpen in generator
’50s progression (doo-wop)B♭ – Gm – E♭ – FOpen in generator
Royal road (J-pop)E♭maj7 – F7 – Dm7 – Gm7Open in generator
Canon progressionB♭ – F – Gm – Dm – E♭ – B♭ – E♭ – FOpen in generator
Circle-of-fifths progressionB♭ – E♭ – Adim – Dm – Gm – Cm – F – B♭Open in generator
Authentic cadence (I–IV–V–I)B♭ – E♭ – F – B♭Open in generator
Folk and countryB♭ – B♭ – E♭ – B♭ – B♭ – E♭ – F – B♭Open in generator
ii–V–I (jazz)Cm7 – F7 – B♭maj7 – B♭maj7Open in generator
Turnaround (I–vi–ii–V)B♭maj7 – Gm7 – Cm7 – F7Open in generator
12-bar bluesB♭7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – E♭7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – F7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – F7Open in generator
12-bar blues, quick changeB♭7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – E♭7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – F7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – F7Open in generator
Three-chord punkB♭5 – B♭5 – E♭5 – F5Open in generator
Mixolydian rock (I–♭VII–IV)B♭ – A♭ – E♭ – B♭Open in generator
♭VI–♭VII–I (victory cadence)B♭ – G♭ – A♭ – B♭Open in generator
Major-to-minor IV (I–iii–IV–iv)B♭ – Dm – E♭ – E♭mOpen in generator

Major keys

Minor keys

Frequently asked questions

How many sharps or flats are in B♭ major?

B♭ major has 2 flats (B♭, E♭). Its relative minor is G minor, with the same key signature.

What chords are in the key of B♭ major?

The triads built on the scale degrees: B♭, Cm, Dm, E♭, F, Gm, Adim. The main chords used most often: B♭, E♭, F, Gm.

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Photos: Isak Photography, 42 North, Rachel Loughman, Vitaly Gariev, Vitaly Gariev, Isaac Martin / Unsplash