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How to Read Music Written on the B-Flat Scale

Learning to read music will greatly enhance your ability to play an instrument. Once you can read in the key of C major, which has no sharps or flats, you can begin to learn keys with flats or sharps so you can play more difficult music. Since many songs are written in the key of B-flat major, learning to read music based on the B-flat scale will help you become a more versatile musician.

Things You'll Need

  • Scale book with one-octave scales
  • Sheet music in B-flat
  • Musical instrument
  • Keyboard or piano (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Open your scale book to the B-flat-major scale and study the key signature. The key signature has two flats, one for B and one for E. In the treble clef, B-flat appears on the middle line of the five-line staff. E-flat appears on the top space directly below the top line. In the bass clef, B-flat appears on the second line from the bottom, and E-flat on the second space from the top. Circle the flats in the key signature and the notes on the flatted spaces or lines in the B-flat scale.

    • 2

      Play the B-flat scale, lowering the flatted notes one-half step below the natural note. In this scale, the flatted notes correspond to the black keys just below each B or E on the keyboard. The notes of the B-flat scale are B-flat, C, D, E-flat, F, G, A and B-flat. Practice the scale up and down several times. Check your pitch with a keyboard if you play another instrument.

    • 3

      Take out beginner's sheet music in the key of B-flat. Play the notes, making sure to play B-flat instead of B and E-flat instead of E every time. Go slowly at first. Once you have mastered the piece, practice the music faster.

    • 4

      Watch out for natural signs before any note written on B or E. A natural sign undoes the flat for the measure in which it appears. Play B natural or E natural instead. At the next bar line, the key signature goes back into effect, and B and E become B-flat and E-flat again.

    • 5

      Observe other flats and sharps added to the song as well. If the music has a flat in front of another note, lower that note one-half step for the current measure. If the music has a sharp in front of a note, raise that note one-half step during the current measure. These exceptions lie outside the key, but they do sometimes occur.

    • 6
      Continue learning new songs in B-flat.

      Continue your practice reading and playing music in the key of B-flat. For each practice session, start with the B-flat scale to reinforce the habit of playing B-flat and E-flat. Then practice your older pieces in B-flat and read new pieces in B-flat so you become skilled at reading this new key.

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