Scale degrees · C major
The ♭7 of C is B♭
The ♭7 (flat seven, written b7) of C is B♭ (B flat): a minor seventh above the root.
C — the root, 1B♭ — the ♭7
How to find it
Count letters first, the root included: C, D, E, F, G, A, B. A 7th lands on B.
Then the sound: a minor seventh is 10 semitones above C, and the B that is 10 semitones up is B♭.
That is why it is B♭ and not A♯: A♯ is the same key on the piano, but from C it would be a 6th, not a 7th.
Where you meet it
The ♭7 is the 7th of the dominant chord and of the minor seventh chord, and the note that turns the major scale into Mixolydian.
In C7:
C · E · G · B♭
The ♭7 in every key
| Key | The ♭7 |
|---|---|
| C | B♭ |
| G | F |
| D | C |
| A | G |
| E | D |
| B | A |
| F♯ | E |
| D♭ | C♭ |
| A♭ | G♭ |
| E♭ | D♭ |
| B♭ | A♭ |
| F | E♭ |
Every degree of C
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