B-flat note

The Solution below shows the position of note B-flat on the piano, treble clef and bass clef.

The Lesson steps then describe the note characteristics and relationship with the notes around it, and also lists which scales the note is in.

For a quick summary of this topic, have a look at Note name.

Solution

1. B-flat note

Bb is a black key on the piano.

Another name for Bb is A#, which has the same note pitch / sound, which means that the two note names are enharmonic to each other.

It is called flat because it is 1 half-tone(s) / semitone(s) down from the white note after which is is named - note B.

Middle C (midi note 60) is shown with an orange line under the 2nd note on the piano diagram.

These note names are shown below on the treble clef followed by the bass clef.

Lesson steps

1. Piano key note names

The white keys are named using the alphabetic letters A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, which is a pattern that repeats up the piano keyboard.

Every white or black key could have a flat(b) or sharp(#) accidental name, depending on how that note is used. In a later step, if sharp or flat notes are used, the exact accidental names will be chosen.

The audio files below play every note shown on the piano above, so middle C (marked with an orange line at the bottom) is the 2nd note heard.

2. B-flat note

Bb is a black key on the piano.

Another name for Bb is A#, which has the same note pitch / sound, which means that the two note names are enharmonic to each other.

It is called flat because it is 1 half-tone(s) / semitone(s) down from the white note after which is is named - note B.

The next note up from Bb is B.

Or put another way, B is 1 half-tone / semitone higher than Bb.

The next note down from Bb is A.

Or put another way, A is 1 half-tone / semitone lower than Bb.

3. Note B-flat is found in which scales ?

Related Keys and Topics