Bb is a black key on the piano. Another name for Bb is A#, which has the same note pitch / sound, which means that the two note names are enharmonic to each other. It is called flat because it is 1 half-tone(s) / semitone(s) down from the white note after which is is named - note B.
Bb is the tonic of the B-flat major scale. Eb is the subdominant of the scale. F is the dominant of the scale. G is the submediant of the scale.
So if the scale contains note Bb, this is always the first flat key signature symbol shown next to the treble or bass clef in the note B staff position(middle line). Then the same for Eb in the second position, and so on for all the words in the phrase.
Another tone after B♭ (B flat) brings us to C and then we move another tone to D. Finally, the last semitone in the pattern brings us back to E♭ (E flat). So, the notes of the E♭ (E flat) major scale are: E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭.
The phrase Concert B flat means the pitch or sound produced if you play a B flat on an instrument that is in the key of C, such as a piano or a guitar. A Concert C is the C on a piano or guitar. A Concert F is the F on a piano or guitar. Think of an instrument in the key of B flat such as a euphonium or a cornet.
Key signature
| Key Sig. | Major Key | Minor Key |
|---|
| 1 sharp | G major | E minor |
| 2 sharps | D major | B minor |
| 3 sharps | A major | F sharp minor |
| 4 sharps | E major | C sharp minor |
As an example, the note B is represented on the third line of the treble clef staff. The note B-flat is indicated with that same notehead with a ♭ symbol placed to the left of it. The ♭ symbol universally indicates a flat note.
If you're playing an instrument that is currently playing the solo or lead part, it's better to be a little sharp. In equal temperament tuning, the third of a major chord is actually sharp compared to a pure third. Playing the third a tiny bit flat actually improves the sound of the chord (at least to my ears).
B minor is a minor scale based on B, consisting of the pitches B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G, and A. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with accidentals as necessary.
Why do B and C and E and F not have a sharp note between them? Simply because, acoustically speaking, there is no room in our current system for another pitch between B and C, or E and F. A sharp always refers to raising the pitch by a half step, and a flat always refers to lowering the pitch by a half step.
B# and C are the same note. B# and C are the same frequency, but we use 7 notes in each key and give them each a letter and a value. Some keys use that frequency for B#, some use it for C, some for Dbb.
In music, sharp, dièse (from French), or diesis (from Greek) means higher in pitch. A sharp symbol, ♯, is used in key signatures or as an accidental. For instance, the music below has a key signature with three sharps (indicating either A major or F♯ minor, the relative minor) and the note, A♯, has a sharp accidental.
The direct enharmonic equivalent of F-sharp major is G-flat major, a key signature with six flats. Its relative minor is D-sharp minor (or enharmonically E-flat minor) and its parallel minor is F-sharp minor.
This means that the scale of the key of B is made up of a muted string plus the notes B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, and A#. Playing scales on your guitar is a whole lot easier after you memorise your guitar's fretboard notes.
