Scale degrees · F major
The ♭5 of F is C♭
The ♭5 (flat five, written b5) of F is C♭ (C flat): a diminished fifth above the root.
F — the root, 1C♭ — the ♭5
How to find it
Count letters first, the root included: F, G, A, B, C. A 5th lands on C.
Then the sound: a diminished fifth is 6 semitones above F, and the C that is 6 semitones up is C♭.
That is why it is C♭ and not B: B is the same key on the piano, but from F it would be a 4th, not a 5th.
Where you meet it
The ♭5 halves the octave: a tritone above F. It is the 5th of the half-diminished and the diminished chord.
In Fm7♭5:
F · A♭ · C♭ · E♭
The ♭5 in every key
| Key | The ♭5 |
|---|---|
| C | G♭ |
| G | D♭ |
| D | A♭ |
| A | E♭ |
| E | B♭ |
| B | F |
| F♯ | C |
| D♭ | A𝄫 |
| A♭ | E𝄫 |
| E♭ | B𝄫 |
| B♭ | F♭ |
| F | C♭ |
Every degree of F
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