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Key of Cb

C♭ major is a real key but is almost never written — it would take all 5 sharps. Its simpler enharmonic twin B major is used instead, and is shown below. Go to B major →

C♭ major is the same key as B major. The key of B major has five sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯). Its seven notes are B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, and A♯. Its relative minor is G♯ Minor, which shares the same notes and key signature. The chords that belong to the key are I B major, ii C♯ minor, iii D♯ minor, IV E major, V F♯ major, vi G♯ minor, vii° A♯ diminished. Its dominant is F♯ major and its subdominant is E major — the keys it most naturally moves toward. Keys built on sharps, like B major, are traditionally described as bright and brilliant.

Key Signature

The notes of the B Major come from B Major, so it carries that key signature: 5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯).

F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯

Order of sharps

Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.

FCGDAEB

Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Relative minor: G♯ Minor scale — same notes, same key signature, different home note.

Chords in the Key of B Major

Every major key is built from seven diatonic chords — one on each note of the scale. In B major they are I B Major, ii C♯ Minor, iii D♯ Minor, IV E Major, V F♯ Major, vi G♯ Minor, and vii° A♯ Diminished. Tap any chord to light it up on the keyboard.

C1C2C3C4BC5C6C7C8D#F#
IB Major (major)

Common chord progressions in B major

  • I – IV – VBEF♯the three primary chords
  • I – V – vi – IVBF♯G♯Ethe most common pop progression
  • ii – V – IC♯F♯Bthe backbone of jazz
  • I – vi – IV – VBG♯EF♯the classic doo-wop turnaround

Everything in the key of Cb

Every chord, scale, and mode in Cb — click any link for the full interactive page with piano diagrams, audio, notation, and fingerings.

Cb Chords

Cb Scales

Cb Modes