B♭ Minor Scale
The B♭ minor scale, also known as B♭ Aeolian, or B♭ natural minor, is the 6th mode of the D♭ major scale. The minor scale is one of the most popular scales in music and can be found in nearly every genre.
This page covers everything you need to know about the B♭ minor scale: notes, intervals, theory, and how to play it on the piano.
B♭ Minor Scale Notes
The B♭ minor scale contains the following notes:
B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭These notes come directly from the D♭ major parent scale, starting on its 6th degree (B♭).
B♭ Minor Piano Diagram
This diagram highlights which keys belong to the B♭ minor scale, which is helpful for visualizing whole steps, half steps, and the overall shape of the scale on the keyboard.
B♭ Minor Scale Formula and Intervals
The interval formula for the minor scale is:
W – H – W – W – H – W – WApplied to B♭, this gives us:
- B♭ → C
- C → D♭
- D♭ → E♭
- E♭ → F
- F → G♭
- G♭ → A♭
- A♭ → B♭
Thus, B♭ minor is built with the following scale degrees:
- Root (B♭)
- Major 2nd (C)
- Minor 3rd (D♭)
- Perfect 4th (E♭)
- Perfect 5th (F)
- Minor 6th (G♭)
- Minor 7th (A♭)
Chords in the Key of B♭ Minor
When stacking thirds on each scale degree of the B♭ minor scale, the following diatonic triads emerge:
- B♭ minor (i)
- C diminished (ii°)
- D♭ major (III)
- E♭ minor (iv)
- F minor (v)
- G♭ major (VI)
- A♭ major (VII)
Related Scales and Modes
If you enjoy playing in B♭ minor, you may also like:
- B♭ Dorian (B♭ minor with a raised 6th)
- B♭ Phrygian (B♭ minor with a lowered 2nd)
- D♭ major (parent scale)
B♭ Minor Scale FAQs
How is B♭ minor different from B♭ major?
B♭ natural minor has a minor 3rd (D♭), minor 6th (G♭), and minor 7th (A♭), while B♭ major has a major 3rd (D), major 6th (G), and major 7th (A).
How is B♭ minor different from B♭ Dorian?
B♭ minor has a minor 6th (G♭), while B♭ Dorian has a major 6th (G).
What is the parent scale of B♭ minor?
D♭ major. B♭ natural minor uses the same notes as D♭ major, but starts on its 6th degree (B♭).
Summary: B♭ Minor Scale
- Notes: B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭
- Mode: 6th mode of D♭ major
- Formula: W, H, W, W, H, W, W