B, also known as Si, Ti, or, in some European countries, H, is the seventh note and the twelfth semitone of the fixed-Do solfège. Its enharmonic equivalents are C (C-flat) and A (A-double sharp). When calculated in

equal temperament An equal temperament is a musical temperament or Musical tuning#Tuning systems, tuning system that approximates Just intonation, just intervals by dividing an octave (or other interval) into steps such that the ratio of the frequency, frequencie ...

with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the

frequency Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit of time. Frequency is an important parameter used in science and engineering to specify the rate of oscillatory and vibratory phenomena, such as mechanical vibrations, audio ...

of Middle B (B₄) is 493.883 Hz. See musical pitch for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.

Designation by octave

Scales

Common scales beginning on B

* B major: B C D E F G A B * B natural minor: B C D E F G A B * B Harmonic minor: B C D E F G A B * B Melodic minor ascending: B C D E F G A B * B melodic minor descending: B A G F E D C B

Diatonic scales

* B Ionian: B C D E F G A B * B Dorian: B C D E F G A B * B Phrygian: B C D E F G A B * B Lydian: B C D E F G A B * B Mixolydian: B C D E F G A B * B Aeolian: B C D E F G A B * B Locrian: B C D E F G A B

Jazz melodic minor

* B Ascending melodic minor: B C D E F G A B * B Dorian ♭2: B C D E F G A B * B Lydian augmented: B C D E F G A B * B Lydian dominant: B C D E F G A B * B Mixolydian ♭6: B C D E F G A B * B Locrian ♮2: B C D E F G A B * B Altered: B C D E F G A B

Variation of meaning by geographical region

The referent of the musical note B varies by location. See for a discussion on other differences in letter naming of the notes. In the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

, Australia, the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, the

Republic of Ireland Ireland ( ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 Counties of Ireland, counties of the island of Ireland, with a population of about 5.4 million. ...

, 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. However, in Germany, Central and

Eastern Europe Eastern Europe is a subregion of the Europe, European continent. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural and socio-economic connotations. Its eastern boundary is marked by the Ural Mountain ...

, and

Scandinavia Scandinavia is a subregion#Europe, subregion of northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It can sometimes also ...

, 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 In music, the BACH motif is the motif (music), motif, a succession of note (music), notes important or characteristic to a musical composition, piece, ''B flat, A, C, B natural''. In Letter notation, German musical nomenclature, in whi ...

and the DSCH motif (the latter of which also uses the "S" name for what in Anglophone would be E-flat).

References

{{Semitones Musical notes