B-flat minor is a minor scale based on Bflat, consisting of the pitches B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. Its key signature has five flats. Its relative major is D-flat major and its parallel major is B-flat major. Its enharmonic equivalent, A-sharp minor, which would contain seven sharps, is not normally used.

The B-flat natural minor scale is:

Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with accidentals as necessary. The B-flat harmonic minor and melodic minor scales are:

Scale degree chords

The scale degree chords of B-flat minor are:

• Tonic – B-flat minor

• Supertonic – C diminished

• Mediant – D-flat major

• Subdominant – E-flat minor

• Dominant – F minor

• Submediant – G-flat major

• Subtonic – A-flat major

Characteristics

B-flat minor is traditionally a 'dark' key.

The old natural horn was barely capable of playing in B-flat minor: the only example found in 18th-century music is a modulation that occurs in the first minuet of Franz Krommer's Concertino in D major, Op. 80.

Notable classical compositions

Charles-Valentin Alkan

• Prelude Op. 31, No. 12 (Le temps qui n'est plus)

• Symphony for Solo Piano, 3rd movement: Menuet

Samuel Barber

• Adagio for Strings

Frédéric Chopin

• Piano Sonata No. 2 "Funeral March"

• Nocturne Op. 9 No. 1

• Scherzo No. 2

• Prelude Op. 28, No. 16 "Hades"

• Mazurka Op. 24, No. 4

Franz Liszt

• Transcendental Étude No. 12 (Chasse-neige) from Transcendental Études

Sergei Rachmaninoff

• Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 36

Domenico Scarlatti

Dmitri Shostakovich

• Symphony No. 13, Op. 113 ("Babi Yar")

• String Quartet No. 13, Op. 138

Richard Strauss

• An Alpine Symphony begins and ends in B-flat minor.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

• Piano Concerto No. 1

• Marche slave

William Walton

• Symphony No. 1

References

External links