B Major Scale
B major has a bright, slightly tense and dramatic quality. Its five sharps make it awkward on piano but surprisingly resonant on guitar when played with a capo. It appears frequently in progressive rock and pop balladry.
Notes in B Major
The B major scale contains seven notes: B — C♯ — D♯ — E — F♯ — G♯ — A♯. All major scales follow the same interval formula — tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone (T T S T T T S) — applied starting on B.
Key Signature
The key signature tells you which notes are permanently sharped or flatted throughout a piece. B major has 5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯). Its relative minor is G♯ minor — a scale with identical notes but a different tonal centre.
Diatonic Chords
Every major scale generates seven diatonic chords — one built on each scale degree. For B major those are:
In detail: B major, C♯ minor, D♯ minor, E major, F♯ major, G♯ minor, A♯ diminished. The I, IV, and V chords are major (the 'primary' triads); ii, iii, and vi are minor; and the vii chord is diminished.
Famous Songs in B Major
Many iconic recordings were written or recorded in B major:
- "More Than a Feeling" – Boston
- "Sharp Dressed Man" – ZZ Top (in Bb/B range)
- "Space Oddity" – David Bowie (features B major)
- "Blackbird" – The Beatles
How to Practise B Major
B major is a great key to practise reading music with multiple sharps. Work through the scale slowly, naming each sharp degree: C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯, A♯.
Use the MusoKit scale explorer to see B major on an interactive piano keyboard and guitar fretboard, play it back with audio, and explore all seven diatonic modes built from its notes.
Modes of B Major
The seven modes of B major each begin on a different scale degree while keeping the same notes. Starting on the first note gives you B Ionian (identical to B major); starting on the sixth gives you G♯ Aeolian (natural minor). Open the scale explorer and select each mode to hear how the tonal character shifts while the notes remain constant.
FAQs
What are the notes in the B major scale?
The B major scale contains: B — C♯ — D♯ — E — F♯ — G♯ — A♯. There are seven notes, following the whole-step/half-step formula W–W–H–W–W–W–H.
What chords are in the key of B major?
The seven diatonic chords of B major are: B major, C♯ minor, D♯ minor, E major, F♯ major, G♯ minor, A♯ diminished. The I, IV, and V chords (B, E, F♯) are the primary triads and form the backbone of most B major progressions.
What is the relative minor of B major?
The relative minor of B major is G♯ minor. They share the same key signature (5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯)) but have different tonal centres — B major sounds bright and resolved, while G♯ minor sounds darker and more emotionally ambiguous.
How many sharps or flats does B major have?
B major has 5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯). Each sharp or flat is applied throughout the entire piece unless cancelled by a natural sign.
What is the B major scale used for?
B major has a bright, slightly tense and dramatic quality. Its five sharps make it awkward on piano but surprisingly resonant on guitar when played with a capo. It appears frequently in progressive rock and pop balladry. It suits a wide variety of music genres and is an essential scale for any musician to know.