Learn all about the B-flat minor piano scale, including its notes, diatonic chords, finger positions, and songs in this key

With five flats, B♭ minor may seem like a challenging scale to learn, but our piano tutorial will guide you step-by-step so you can feel confident playing the scale and chords in this key. Here’s what you’ll discover about B♭ minor in this article:

Musical history of the B♭ minor scale
What notes to play on the keyboard for the B♭ minor scale
The key signature for B♭ minor
How the B♭ minor scale looks written on the treble staff
The fingering for the one-octave B♭ natural minor scale
The natural, harmonic, and melodic forms of the B♭ minor scale
How to play chords on the piano in B♭ minor
Some songs to learn and listen to in B♭ minor

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Interesting background on the B-flat minor scale

The B-flat minor scale has a distinctive dramatic character and has been used throughout the world of music. Here are some interesting points about the B-flat minor scale:

Usage in classical music: B-flat minor is not one of the more common keys in classical music, partly because of the number of flats in the key signature. However, it has a great sound that has been used effectively in some very famous works. For example, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, one of the most famous piano concertos, is in B-flat minor. Other notable works in this key include Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 2, which includes the famous funeral march, and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in B-flat minor, Op. 32, No. 2.
Historical context: Composers have used this key to convey specific emotional or atmospheric qualities. It has been particularly effective in romantic and expressive compositions, as it’s often associated with deep emotions and a sense of tragedy or melancholy. This makes it an excellent choice for expressing profound sorrow, introspection, or dramatic intensity.
Adaptation in various genres: Beyond classical music, B-flat minor has been used in jazz, film scores, and contemporary music. It evokes a deeply emotional or somber mood, making it suitable for expressive and poignant music. Its distinctive sound can add a unique character to music in these genres.

What are the notes of the B-flat minor scale?

Every minor scale has three versions; natural, harmonic, and melodic.

The scale of B♭ natural minor starts on B♭ and has five flats in its key signature. The notes are B♭ (B-flat), C, D♭ (D-flat), E♭ (E-flat), F, G♭ (G-flat), A♭ (A-flat) and B♭.

Notes of the B-flat natural minor scale

To play the B♭ harmonic minor scale, simply raise the seventh tone of the scale from A♭ to A. This creates what’s known as a leading tone, a note that’s only a half step below the tonic; in this case, A being a half step below B♭. In melodies and chords, this leading tone provides a tension that makes the ear hungry for the resolution back to the tonic of the scale. It leads the music home.

Notes of the B-flat harmonic minor scale

To play the B♭ melodic minor scale, raise both the sixth and seventh tones of the scale a half step, G♭ to G and A♭ to A. The melodic minor scale is unusual in that it’s played with the sixth and seventh tones raised when the scale is ascending and lowered back when descending. So a descending melodic minor scale is the same as natural minor.

Notes of B-flat melodic minor

What is the key signature for the B-flat minor scale?

The B♭ minor scale has five flats in its key signature, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, and G♭.

B-flat minor key signature

What is the relative major of the B-flat minor scale?

Relative keys share the same key signature, but have a different tonic, or starting note. B♭ minor is the relative minor of D♭ major, sharing the same key signature of five flats.

Parallel keys have different key signatures, but have the same tonic. For B♭ minor, the parallel major is B♭ major, which has only two flats in its key signature.

How do you play the B-flat minor scale on piano?

Right-hand placement for the B-flat minor scale when going up:

4 on B♭
Pass the thumb under
1 on C
2 on D♭
3 on E♭
Pass the thumb under
1 on F
2 on G♭
3 on A♭
4 on B♭

B-flat natural minor right hand fingering

Left-hand placement for the B-flat minor scale:

2 on B♭
1 on C
Cross the 3rd finger over
3 on D♭
2 on E♭
1 on F
Cross the 4th finger over
4 on G♭
3 on A♭
2 on B♭

B-flat natural minor left hand fingering

When coming down the B-flat minor scale, reverse the finger order like this:

Right hand:

4 on B♭
3 on A♭
2 on G♭
1 on F
Cross the 3rd finger over
3 on E♭
2 on D♭
1 on C
Cross the 4th finger over
4 on B♭

Left hand:

2 on B♭
3 on A♭
4 on G♭
Pass the thumb under
1 on F
2 on E♭
3 on D♭
Pass the thumb under
1 on C
2 on B♭

For tips on how to memorize and play scales with hands together, see our All Piano Scales Guide.

Diatonic chords in the key of B-flat minor: piano tips

Here are the chords based on each note of the B-flat minor scale:

B♭m (B-flat minor – i): B♭ – D♭ – F

Cdim (C diminished – ii°): C – E♭ – G♭

D♭maj (D-flat major – III): D♭ – F – A♭

E♭m (E-flat minor – iv): E♭ – G♭ – B♭

Fm (F minor – v): F – A♭ – C ** If using the B♭harmonic minor scale, the V chord is F Major (F – A – C)

G♭maj (G-flat major – VI): G♭ – B♭ – D♭

A♭maj (A-flat major – VII): A♭ – C – E♭ ** If using B♭harmonic minor, the vii chord is A diminished (A – C – E♭)

Chords using the B-flat minor scale in all three forms, natural, harmonic, and melodic, written on the treble clef as triads built on each tone of the scale with chord symbols and Roman numerals

If you’d like some handy reference guides for chords and triads in all keys, download these free resources from the Hoffman Academy Store:

Songs to play on the piano in the key of B-flat minor

Since B♭ minor is a more advanced key signature, you won’t find much sheet music for beginners in this key. For early advanced piano players, try Variation 5 on a Theme by Handel by Johannes Brahms. This one-page piece features dazzling left hand arpeggios and an expressive melody that explores the dramatic nature of B♭ minor. The sheet music is free to download for Hoffman Academy premium members, or can be purchased separately.

Enjoy listening to these famous songs and pieces in B♭ minor:

We hope you’ve had fun exploring the B-flat minor piano scale! To learn more about minor scales and how to play them, check out Hoffman Academy’s Minor Scales Fingering Guide.

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