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B major scale

The eight notes, fingering for both hands and the key signature.

The short answer

The notes of the B major scale are B, C sharp, D sharp, E, F sharp, G sharp and A sharp, and then B again at the top.

On the keys

Keyboard with the B major scale marked: B, C sharp, D sharp, E, F sharp, G sharp and A sharpBEBC♯D♯F♯G♯A♯

Yellow is the starting note, and the same note again an octave up.

On the staff

Treble and bass staves showing the B major scale, one octave: B, C sharp, D sharp, E, F sharp, G sharp and A sharpBC♯D♯EF♯G♯A♯B

One octave of B major, with the key signature at the start of each staff. B major has five sharps in its key signature: F sharp, C sharp, G sharp, D sharp and A sharp. The right hand reads the treble clef; the left plays the same notes two octaves lower, on the bass clef.

Fingering

One octave going up. The thumb is 1 and the little finger is 5. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse order.

HandBC♯D♯EF♯G♯A♯B
Right12312345
Left43214321

Key signature

B major has five sharps in its key signature: F sharp, C sharp, G sharp, D sharp and A sharp.

Keep going

I chord: B major

B, D sharp and F sharp.

IV chord: E major

E, G sharp and B.

V chord: F sharp major

F sharp, A sharp and C sharp.

G sharp minor scale

The relative minor: the same seven notes and the same key signature, starting on G sharp.

B minor scale

Same starting note, a different mood: the third, sixth and seventh notes drop a semitone.

Questions

How many sharps does the B major scale have?

B major has five sharps in its key signature: F sharp, C sharp, G sharp, D sharp and A sharp.

What is the fingering for the B major scale?

For one octave going up, the right hand uses 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 and the left hand uses 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1.

Practise B major and the other scales in PlayPiano, a piano practice app for iPhone and iPad.

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