B Music Note: The Complete Guide to the Note and Key

As one of the twelve notes in Western music, the B music note sits between A#/Bb and C. Learn how to recognise B in different clefs, the different scales and modes that start on B and listen to famous songs that feature B prominently in their melodies.

B Note on The Staff

Here is probably the most common B you’ll see. It sits on the third line of the treble clef and is the B above middle C.

Below are different Bs that you will see on the treble and bass clef. Remember that we can play B notes an octave higher or lower from the B above middle C. This means that technically there are infinite B notes to choose from!

Below are notes that are enharmonically equivalent to B. A double sharp means two half-steps above A, which is a B natural. C flat means one half-step below C, which is also B natural.

B Note on the Piano and Keyboard

B sits between the A#/Bb and C keys on the keyboard.

The black keys move in groups of two then three. The B note is just after the third black key in each group of 3.

You might also remember it as the seventh white key above C. This is because B is a major 7th above C.

B Note Accidentals

We can add accidental signs to a B note and these are shown below. Remember that all these notes (with the exception of B natural) are not enharmonically equivalent to B.

B Music Notes in Different Clefs

Here are typical B notes that you will see in different clefs. Some are lower or higher and for more on how to name the different B notes, check out our post on octaves.

Treble Clef – B

The B above middle C (B4) sits on the third line of the treble clef.

Bass Clef – B

The B below middle C (B3) sits on the second line of the bass clef.

Alto Clef – B

The B below middle C (B3) sits on the second space of the alto clef.

Tenor Clef – B

The B below middle C (B3) sits on the third space of the tenor clef.

Mezzo-soprano Clef – B

The B below middle C (B3) sits on the first space of the mezzo-soprano clef.

Soprano Clef – B

The B above middle C (B4) sits on the fourth line of the soprano clef.

Baritone Clef – B

The B below middle C (B3) sits on the fourth space of the baritone clef.

Popular Scales starting on B

B Major

The major scale formula is W-W-H-W-W-W-H, where W= whole step and H = half step. Below is the B major scale.

B Natural Minor

The natural minor formula is W-H-W-W-H-W-W. Below is the B natural minor scale.

B Harmonic Minor

The harmonic minor formula is W – H – W – W – H – W1/2 – H. Note that this scale has a three semitone step or a whole-step-and-a-half.

B Melodic Minor

When ascending the melodic minor scale follows this pattern: W-H-W-W-W-W-H.

When descending it follows the natural minor pattern.

Modes Starting on B

Below are the modes that start on B.

Frequency of B Music Note

Using the equal temperament tuning system, the A above middle C is 440 Hz. This means that the B above middle C would be approximately 494 Hz.

Solfege B Note

In the solfege system, the syllables Do, Re Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si are used to refer to the notes names, C, D, E , F, G, A, B.

The B music note in solfege is referred to as ‘Ti’,

What’s Next…?

• Learn about Chords in the Key of B major
• Learn about more music notes with our music theory basics guides.