B flat minor

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**B♭ minor**
Relative key	D♭ major

Parallel key	B♭ major
Component pitches
B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭

B flat minor is a minor scale based on B flat, consisting of the pitches B flat, C, D flat, E flat, F, G flat, A flat and B flat (natural minor scale). Its key signature consists of five flats. The Harmonic Minor scale has a leading-tone; in this case, the A would be natural.

A short and easy way to remember this key signature is with the mnemonic "BEAD = bead add a G BEADG". A mnemonic to help remember the order of sharps is "Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle"; in reverse, the same mnemonic describes the order of flats.

Its relative key is D flat major, and its parallel major is B flat major. Its enharmonic equivalent is A sharp minor.

Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with accidentals as necessary.

In the German language, the pitch B flat is called B, so B flat minor is called B-moll.

B flat minor is usually associated with sadness and loneliness. Some of the best oboe solos are written in this key. One example is the second movement of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, which depicts "the feeling that you get when you are all alone", in Tchaikovsky's words. Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 is written in this key, but the famous opening theme is in the relative major, D flat major.

One of the few symphonies written in this key is Shostakovich's Symphony No. 13, "Babi Yar". Other examples include Sir William Walton's Symphony No. 1 and Richard Strauss's Eine Alpensinfonie.

Domenico Scarlatti wrote just two keyboard sonatas in B flat minor, K. 128 and K. 131. B flat minor is the flattest key he ever used for a sonata. Other well-known pieces in this key are Frédéric Chopin's Piano Sonata No. 2 (Funeral March) and Christian Sinding's Frühlingsrauschen.