B Flat Major Scale on Piano

Notes, Fingering & How To Play It

The B flat major scale on piano is an interesting one to play mainly due to the unique fingering you need to use to play it. It doesn't have many black notes - only 2 - but their locations mean we need to move on from basic scale fingering and use fingering or finger patterns just for this scale.

Here you'll learn:

how to play the Bb scale
the notes of the Bb major scale
fingering for the right hand (on piano)
fingering for the left hand
the key signature of B flat major
a bit about the Bb major chord
what to practice!

B Flat Major Scale - Video Tutorial

Notes of the Bb Major Scale

The B flat major scale starts and ends on Bb. It has 2 black notes in it's key signature - Bb and Eb.

The key of Bb has Bb and Eb.

The notes of the Bb major scale are: Bb C D Eb F G A Bb

Notes of B Flat Major Scale

Piano Fingering for Bb Major Scale

The fingering for the B flat major scale on piano is unique for both the right hand and left hand. So each one should be learned on it's own in the beginning before trying to play hands together. (Get that muscle memory down!)

One of the different things is that right hand will start on finger 2 and then cross 1 under right away. Left hand will start on finger 3 but end on finger 2. So it's really a different one.

Right hand fingering for Bb Major Scale:

Right hand fingering: 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 4

Right Hand Fingering for B Flat Major Scale Treble Clef

B Flat Major Scale on Piano - Treble Clef / Right Hand Fingering

The left hand is also unique and has it's own finger patterns.

Left hand fingering for B flat major scale on piano:

Left hand: 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 2

Bb Major Scale on Piano Left Hand Fingering

B Flat Major Scale on Piano Fingering for Bass Clef / Left Hand

Putting the Bb Scale Hands Together

When putting this scale hands together, you really need to be able to play them hands separately without stopping to think about your fingering and notes first. Once you feel very comfortable and can play it without really thinking about it, you can start putting it together.

Here are some tips for playing the B flat major scale hands together:

start extremely slow (think slug pace)
take one note at a time going up only
go back down and concentrate on getting the fingering right especially on the turn around
keep going really slowly
don't speed up until you can play the scale evenly, without stopping to check your fingers at your slow pace
be patient with yourself - this ones tricky to begin with!

The B flat major scale is not a beginner scale so take that into account when learning it. It's like everything else, it takes time and practice to learn.

Resource for Piano Scales:

Fingering for all scales - especially more unique ones like Bb major, can be found in the Complete Book of Scales, Chords and Arpeggios here on Amazon (this is an affiliate link that will earn a tiny commission).

This is a handy resource when learning scales (and also arpeggios).

B Flat Major Scale Fingering Up & Down

If you're playing this scale going up and back down, use the following fingering to help you.

Here are pictures / diagrams of the Bb major scale on piano going both up and back down for the treble clef and right hand and the bass clef and left hand.

Right hand fingering for Bb major scale on piano

B flat major scale piano fingering for left hand

The Key Signature of B Flat Major

Now that you know the B flat major scale, you also know the key signature of B flat major. If the scale as 2 flats, the key does.

The key of B flat has 2 flats: Bb and Eb.

(The order of the first 4 flats spells the word BEAD, so we have the first 2 letters of the word here.)

Understand the Bb Chord from the Bb Scale

Another thing we can learn from this scale is the Bb major chord - which is written as just Bb.

A major chord is built off of the first, third and fifth notes of the scale.

When you look at the scale you can see:

1st note = Bb

3rd note = D

5th note = F

Those 3 notes make the Bb chord. Bb = Bb D F

You can also see here why a Bb suspended chord has a flat. The suspended chord formula is the 1st, 4th and 5th notes of a major scale. So that means Bbsus (B flat suspended chord) would have Bb, Eb and F as it's notes.

Free Download:

Ultimate Chord Cheat Sheet

Subscribe below and get free access to the (printable) Ultimate Chord Cheat Sheet.

What To Practice?

If you've never played the B flat major scale on piano before, you can give it a try this week!

I'd recommend playing it hands separately and going up and back down.

You can also play the B flat major chord at the end of your scale.

If you need more help with fingering for scale, I recommend the book: Complete Book of Scales, Chords and Arpeggios here on Amazon (this is an affiliate link).

You can also find more scale on the Major Scales Page.

More pages that might help:

List of Musical Scales
A list of musical scales including major, minor, and chromatic scales ((plus a few more).
G Major Scale on Piano: Notes & Fingering
The G major scale on piano with notes in treble and bass clefs and fingering / finger patterns.
11 Different Ways To Practice Piano Scales
There are lots of different ways you can practice scales depending on your level. Here are 11 great ways to practice your scales.
The Essential Major Scales Challenge
Join the essential major scales challenge here for learning piano scales.
Bass Clef Scales ((Major Scales)
The bass clef scales written with their key signatures and note names.
A Flat Major Scale on Piano, Fingering, Notes & How To
How to play the A flat major scale on piano with notes, fingering and more. Also know as Ab major scale.
E Flat Major Scale on Piano: Notes, Fingering & How To
Learn how to play the E flat major scale on piano with notes, fingering for right hand and left hand, key signature and more!
Minor Scales
Here are all the minor scales for sharp and flat key signatures. They're written both in natural and harmonic forms.
D Major Scale on Piano: Notes, Fingering & How To
How to play the D Major Scale on piano with notes, fingering diagrams and how to video.
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What is the formula for piano scales? Cracking the Code
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What Are Major Scales: Explainer
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Pentatonic Scales
Pentatonic scales in every key with their notations.
E Major Scale on Piano: Notes, Fingering & How To Play It
How to play the E major scale on piano with notes, fingering or finger patterns, key signature and more!
C Major Scale On Piano: Notes, Fingering & How To
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Piano Scales For Beginners: Easily Get Started Playing Scales
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Master Scale Fingering For Piano in 5 Steps
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A Major Scale On Piano, How To with Notes & Fingering
How to play A major scale (with sharps) on piano. Notes, video and fingering to help you get playing.
F Major Scale on Piano: Notes, Fingering & How To Play It
How to play F major scale on the piano with notes of the scale, fingering or finger patterns for piano and pictures!
Why Learn Piano Scales - 5 Important Reasons
Wondering why learn piano scales? I've got some very important reasons here and they're not all physical.
All 12 Major Scales
Find all 12 Major Scales written in the treble clef! All major scales written in music with key signatures and how to make them.
Piano Music Scales
See all of the piano music scales and learn what fingers to use in the scale.
Piano Scales Video Lesson
Learn all the fingerings for major piano scales. Watch the video to see the proper technique for playing a scale.