C♭ major scale
The C♭ major scale, with its seven flats (C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭, B♭), is one of the most theoretically complex major scales. This scale is enharmonically equivalent to the B major scale, which is more commonly used due to its simpler notation with only five sharps.
The scale follows the major scale pattern: C♭ to D♭ (whole), D♭ to E♭ (whole), E♭ to F♭ (half), F♭ to G♭ (whole), G♭ to A♭ (whole), A♭ to B♭ (whole), and B♭ to C♭ (half). The seven flats create a particularly complex notation that is rarely used in practice.
While C♭ major is theoretically valid, composers almost always choose to write in its enharmonic equivalent, B major, which uses five sharps instead of seven flats. This scale primarily serves academic purposes in understanding the complete theoretical framework of Western music and demonstrating the importance of enharmonic relationships in musical notation.
C♭ major scale details
Information and technical details of the scale.
- Category
- western
- Type
- Heptatonic (7 notes per octave)
- Intervals
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1
- Formula
- 2-2-1-2-2-2-1
- Also known as
- C♭ Ionian scale, C♭ Ionian mode, C-flat major scale
- Enharmonic equivalents
Related scales
Here are some scales that are related to the C♭ major scale. Or browse all piano scales.
C♭ harmonic minor scale
2-1-2-2-1-3-1
C♭ melodic minor scale
2-1-2-2-2-2-1
C♭ natural minor scale
2-1-2-2-1-2-2