B Ionian (major)
A diatonic mode with a major 3rd and major 7th; a stable major sound.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- B Ionian (major)
- Family
- Diatonic scales
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- W – W – H – W – W – W – H
- Numeric formula
- 0-2-2-1-2-2-2-1
Notes & degrees
1Broot
2C#major 2nd
3D#major 3rd
4Eperfect 4th
5F#perfect 5th
6G#major 6th
7A#major 7th
Construction
- Overview
- A diatonic mode with a major 3rd and major 7th; a stable major sound.
- Application in music
- Identical to the natural major scale and forms the modal basis of a major key.
- Interval formula
- BWC#WD#HEWF#WG#WA#
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IBpoint of resttonic
IIID#defines modal qualitythird
VF#supports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIA#A#
IBB
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIID#D#
IVEE
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IBB
IIC#C#
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how B Ionian (major) looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.