Scales are a known concept to all musicians, and most beginners learn about major scales first. Flat scales are a part of music theory, and they refer to major scales with flat notes within the key signature.
As a beginner, you may have only focused on major scales, or are intimidated by flat scales. The guide below will help beginners with all they need to know regarding flat major scales, including why they are necessary and how to play them.
What Are Flat Scales?
Flat scales are major scales created with the notes lowered by a half step instead of going up a half step, making them sharp. The flat symbol (♭) indicates that the note is lowered by that half step, making it a flat note.
Examples include B becomes B♭, E becomes E♭, and C becomes C♭. When referring to “flat scales” it means the family of major scales with flat notes, such as F Major, B♭ Major, and E♭ Major.
The Circle of Fifths is a tool that organizes key signatures, showing how many flats or sharps each scale has. You move counterclockwise to explore flat scales starting from C Major (no flats or sharps).
Flat Keys in the Circle of Fifths:
- F Major: 1 flat (B♭)
- B♭ Major: 2 flats (B♭, E♭)
- E♭ Major: 3 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭)
- A♭ Major: 4 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭)
- D♭ Major: 5 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭)
- G♭ Major: 6 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭)
Each time you add a flat, it follows a specific order: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭.
Overview of All Major Scales
To give an overview of major scales for beginners – it’s a series of 7 notes arranged in a pattern of whole steps (W) and half steps (H). The pattern looks like this: W-W-H-W, and then it starts up again with W-W-H to finish the scale.
With the C Major scale, the notes when using the piano are all white and go in order C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C with no sharps or flats in the keys. If you’re playing the guitar as a chord, the C chord is one of the easiest to begin with for that reason as well.
The move from C to D is a whole step since there is a half step note (black key) in between them. The move from E to F is only a half step, since there’s not another note in between.
What are Major Scales?
A structure of a major scale starts and ends on the same letter note, one octave apart, and the name of the scale comes from that starting and ending note. For example, the D major scale started on note D, and an G major scale starts on G.
Major scales are the most commonly utilized musical scales. The twelve major scales you learn about in music theory are as follows:
- C Major Scale
- G Major Scale
- F Major Scale
- D Major Scale
- B flat Major Scale
- A Major Scale
- E flat Major Scale
- E Major Scale
- A flat Major Scale
- B Major Scale
- D flat Major Scale
- G flat Major Scale
Flat Scales vs Sharp Scales
All musical scales with the term “flat” in them are major scales that have, you guessed it, a minor note or flat note within them. Musical scales without the term “flat” included are major scales with sharps. The only exception is the F Major scale, which does contain one flat but isn’t considered a flat scale.
A last scale will sound slightly lower than a sharp scale that contains the same letter due to the different in pitch. The symbol difference between sharp and last scales is the ♭ symbol for flat and the # symbol to indicate a sharp note.
The key signature music notation tells you whether a scale has sharps or flats, with different keys and varying combinations. The key of A flat major would be considered a flat scale, and the key of G sharp Major would be a sharp scale.
The Importance of Flat Scales in Music
Flat scales are often utilized in certain music genres, like blues, jazz, and classical music, making them an important part within music education and musicianship. Understanding more and learning how to play flat scales can take your music reading skills to a higher level.
Flat scales often create tension in music so that they can evoke powerful emotions. They change the pitch of notes to add expression, color, and richness.
The scales themselves provide a firm foundation to build music on, following major scale degrees to provide structure when playing on a keyboard or a piano. If you’re a guitar or stringed instrument player you can build finger coordination and a better understanding of your instrument.
How Flat Scales Appear in Notation
In music notation you’ll see the flat scale represented when the symbol (♭) is placed next to or to the left of the note in the scale, to indicate its lowering by a half step.
The flats for a scale are located at the beginning of a musical piece or sheet music, where you find the key signature, which shows which notes in the treble clef and bass clef will be flat throughout that particular piece.
Common Flat Scales
There are some common flat scales that beginners must learn to understand the specific pattern. These include C Flat Major, F Flat Major, and B Flat Minor scales.
A major scale with a flat 3rd (b3) is called a melodic minor scale . It’s different than a harmonic minor scale since the melodic raises the six and sevens scale degrees, but the harmonic only raises the seventh scale degree.
But before we get into minor and harmonic scales, let’s look at the common flat scales of C flat, F flat Major, and B flat minor.
C Flat Major Scale
The C flat major scale goes in order ascending beginning from the note C♭ and consists of C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭, and B♭. It has seven flats in the key signature.
The C-flat major scale is an enharmonic major scale. This means is contains the same pitch as the B Major scale but the note names are different because of the flats.
F Flat Major Scale
The F-flat major scale starts with F flat, then goes to G flat, A flat, B double flat, C flat, D flat, and E flat. The key signature has eight flats total, including that one double flat.
When written, it’s not usually called f-flat major but the enharmonic E major. Using the major equivalent scale makes it easier to read and write music.
B Flat Minor Scale
The B-flat minor scale consists of pitches starting with B♭, then C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, and A♭. The key signature shows five flats.
The relative of B-flat minor is the D-flat major scale. The relative keys share the same key signature but have a different tonic or starting note.
Learning and Practicing Flat Scales
Flat scales can be intimidating to learn for the first time, so it can be helpful to remember some simple tips and steps to help you master your flat key signatures. If you’re a fan of blues or jazz music you’ll likely be learning the blues scale, which is characterized by a “blue note” or a flatted fifth, which is not unlike flat scales because it creates that dissonant or tense feel when played.
There is something often called the “rule of flats” in music. This means that the order of flats is the word “BEAD” plus three letters: G, C, F. The order of sharps is the same but reversed — FCG DAEB. If you’ve memorized the notes on the circle of 5ths and 4ths, you will notice flats go in fourths starting on B and sharps go in fifths starting on F.
Techniques for Mastering Flat Scales
Some helpful techniques for mastering your flat scales are to first identify patterns. There are recurring fingerings or intervals across the scales.
It helps to listen to each note when you play it. A natural minor key or flat scale will sound clear and in tune, even if it gives off a dissonant sound.
Exercises for Practicing Flat Scales
On the guitar, you’ll have to pay attention to whether there’s any picking involved with the chord play. Piano players should focus on one hand at a time before combining the right hand with the left.
Another exercise you can utilize when practicing flat scales is using a metronome. This will ensure you have the correct tempo and rhythm when playing.
Overcoming Common Challenges
Beginners who are learning flat scales for the first time often feel overwhelmed, and it’s easy to face some challenges. Some of those things include confusing flats with sharps, not being consistent with fingering, and forgetting what key signature you’re playing.
Remembering that flats lower a note and sharps raise it can be helpful to overcome confusion. Practicing regularly and working with an instructor taking private music lessons or online lessons can be heflpul to keep a regular practice schedule.
You should also memorize the order of flats as best you can (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭) and relate it to the Circle of Fifths. The more you’re able to practice and memorize, the more you can use it without needing to think too much about it.
Learn How to Master Flat Scales
Understanding and mastering flat scales is an essential tool for any musician to build a solid foundation in music theory and performance, helping you build your craft and easily play your favorite songs. The best way to learn scales and how to practice the most effectively is by working with an instructor and taking lessons.
It’s necessary to use tools like the circle of fifths, exercise fingering and hand placement depending on your instrument, and be patient with yourself. Learning and becoming a more well-rounded musician with flat scales takes time, and you’re never too old to start.
Take your learning of scales to the next level by booking a lesson with one of our guitar instructors or piano experts. Our online music lessons can also provide an opportunity to receive individualized guidance and support from a skilled instructor, making learning scales more straightforward and more enjoyable!
