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b (musical note)

{{Short description|Musical note}}

{{redirect|B (note)|other topics|B (disambiguation)}}

{{Redirect|H (musical note)|the musical note B in German notation|B♭ (musical note)}}

{{stack|{ \new Staff \with{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 } << \time 2/1 \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f { \clef bass b1_B \clef treble b'_B } >> }}}

B, also known as Si, Ti, or, in some European countries, H,{{Cite web |title=B {{!}} Flat, Sharp, Enharmonic {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/art/B-musical-note |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} is the seventh note and the twelfth semitone of the fixed-Do solfège. Its enharmonic equivalents are C{{music|flat}} (C-flat) and A{{music|double sharp}} (A-double sharp).

When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of Middle B (B4) is 493.883 Hz.{{cite web|last=Suits|first=B. H.|title=Physics of Music Notes - Scales: Just vs Equal Temperament|url=https://pages.mtu.edu/~suits/scales.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722111724/http://pages.mtu.edu/~suits/scales.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 22, 2017|website=MTU.edu|publisher=Michigan Technological University|date=1998|access-date=5 February 2024}} See musical pitch for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.

Designation by octave

class="wikitable"

!Scientific designation

!Helmholtz designation

!Octave name

!Frequency (Hz)

!MIDI note number

B−1B͵͵͵ or ͵͵͵B or BBBBSubsubcontraalign=right| {{#expr:440 * 2^((11-69)/12) round 3}}

|11

B0B͵͵ or ͵͵B or BBBSubcontraalign=right| {{#expr:440 * 2^((23-69)/12) round 3}}

|23

B1B͵ or ͵B or BBContraalign=right| {{#expr:440 * 2^((35-69)/12) round 3}}

|35

B2BGreatalign=right| {{#expr:440 * 2^((47-69)/12) round 3}}

|47

B3bSmallalign=right| {{#expr:440 * 2^((59-69)/12) round 3}}

|59

B4b{{prime}}One-linedalign=right| {{#expr:440 * 2^((71-69)/12) round 3}}

|71

B5b{{prime}}{{prime}}Two-linedalign=right| {{#expr:440 * 2^((83-69)/12) round 3}}

|83

B6b{{prime}}{{prime}}{{prime}}Three-linedalign=right| {{#expr:440 * 2^((95-69)/12) round 3}}

|95

B7b{{prime}}{{prime}}{{prime}}{{prime}}Four-linedalign=right| {{#expr:440 * 2^((107-69)/12) round 3}}

|107

B8b{{prime}}{{prime}}{{prime}}{{prime}}{{prime}}Five-linedalign=right| {{#expr:440 * 2^((119-69)/12) round 3}}

|119

B9b{{prime}}{{prime}}{{prime}}{{prime}}{{prime}}{{prime}}Six-linedalign=right| {{#expr:440 * 2^((131-69)/12) round 3}}

|N/A

B10b{{prime}}{{prime}}{{prime}}{{prime}}{{prime}}{{prime}}{{prime}}Seven-linedalign=right| {{#expr:440 * 2^((143-69)/12) round 3}}

|N/A

Scales

=Common scales beginning on B=

  • B major: B C{{music|#}} D{{music|#}} E F{{music|#}} G{{music|#}} A{{music|#}} B
  • B natural minor: B C{{music|#}} D E F{{music|#}} G A B
  • B Harmonic minor: B C{{music|#}} D E F{{music|#}} G A{{music|#}} B
  • B Melodic minor ascending: B C{{music|#}} D E F{{music|#}} G{{music|#}} A{{music|#}} B
  • B melodic minor descending: B A G F{{music|#}} E D C{{music|#}} B

=[[Diatonic scale|Diatonic scales]]=

  • B Ionian: B C{{music|#}} D{{music|#}} E F{{music|#}} G{{music|#}} A{{music|#}} B
  • B Dorian: B C{{music|#}} D E F{{music|#}} G{{music|#}} A B
  • B Phrygian: B C D E F{{music|#}} G A B
  • B Lydian: B C{{music|#}} D{{music|#}} E{{music|#}} F{{music|#}} G{{music|#}} A{{music|#}} B
  • B Mixolydian: B C{{music|#}} D{{music|#}} E F{{music|#}} G{{music|#}} A B
  • B Aeolian: B C{{music|#}} D E F{{music|#}} G A B
  • B Locrian: B C D E F G A B

=[[Jazz scale#Modes of the melodic minor scale|Jazz melodic minor]]=

Variation of meaning by geographical region

The referent of the musical note B varies by location.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}} See {{format link|Musical note#History of note names}} for a discussion on other differences in letter naming of the notes.

In the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and the Netherlands, as described above, B usually refers to the note a semitone below C, while B-flat refers to the note a whole tone below C.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

However, in Germany, Central and Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia, the label B is sometimes used for what, above, is called B-flat, and the note a semitone below C is called H. This makes possible certain spellings which are otherwise impossible, such as the BACH motif and the DSCH motif (the latter of which also uses the "S" name for what in Anglophone would be E-flat).{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

See also

References

{{Semitones}}

Category:Musical notes