Major (Ionian) · B · Piano
The B Major scale is B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯ — formula 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, step pattern W–W–H–W–W–W–H. Use it over Bmaj7: it is the scale for the I chord (maj7) and any major-key tonic; the default over Imaj7 in a ii–V–I. Below, every note is marked on the two-octave keyboard; press play to hear it on a synthesized piano while each note lights up, or tap any key to sound that note.
Visualizer
Piano
Guitar · standard tuning
Tap any note on the diagram to hear it. Play loops the scale up and down one octave in eighth notes (switch Loop off for a single pass). “Show” switches or combines the fretboard and keyboard; “Sound” picks the instrument you hear. Audio is synthesized in the browser.
Reference
| Degree | Note | Interval from B | Step to next |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | unison (0 semitones) | W |
| 2 | C♯ | major 2nd (2 semitones) | W |
| 3 | D♯ | major 3rd (4 semitones) | H |
| 4 | E | perfect 4th (5 semitones) | W |
| 5 | F♯ | perfect 5th (7 semitones) | W |
| 6 | G♯ | major 6th (9 semitones) | W |
| 7 | A♯ | major 7th (11 semitones) | H |
Chord it implies: Bmaj7 (B – D♯ – F♯ – A♯). Use it for: the I chord (maj7) and any major-key tonic; the default over Imaj7 in a ii–V–I.
Common questions
B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯. As scale degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. It has 7 notes.
B Major fits Bmaj7 and, more generally, the I chord (maj7) and any major-key tonic; the default over Imaj7 in a ii–V–I.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 — the step pattern from the root is W W H W W W H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Play B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯ B ascending from the root, then descend. The keyboard above shows every root in gold, chord tones outlined in amber and the remaining scale tones in teal; use the Play button to hear the fingering tempo.
Keep going
Same scale on guitar · all Major pages: Major (Ionian) hub · practise it in context: ii–V–I trainer · theory: chord-scale theory.
Other scales from B