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The B-flat (Bb) major scale on piccolo is the scale of the key of B-flat or two flats. This implies that its tonic note is B-flat. B-flat major is subdominant to E-flat major, dominant to F major, parallel to B-flat minor, and relative to G minor. Below is a two octaves scale of B-flat major on piccolo and how it sounds;
How to play the B-flat major scale on the piccolo, its notes, and finger placement chat
You can only play a B-flat major scale of two octaves on the piccolo, being between the range of Bb5 to Bb7. You need to use a finger placement chart or a particular pattern to play the B-flat major scale on the piccolo.
First octave B-flat major scale notes (Bb5 – Bb6) finger placement chart for piccolo
To play the first octave (Bb5 – Bb6) B-flat major scale on the piccolo, you have to play all the notes naturally except for the B note and E note which you will have to flatten. Your finger placement needs to be accurate in other to produce a perfect scale.
Second octave B-flat major scale notes (Bb6 – Bb7) finger placement chart for piccolo
To play the second octave (Bb6 – Bb7) B-flat major scale on the piccolo, you have to play all the notes naturally except for the B note which you will have to flatten. Your finger placement needs to be accurate in other to produce a perfect scale. Learning the scale might be hard for beginners. You will also have to tighten your lips to produce higher-pitched notes.
Concert B-flat major scale
While playing the B-flat major scale, every note is played in its natural form except for the B note and E note. This means that all notes except the B note and E note are played naturally while playing this scale on the concert piccolo, Indian or Bansuri piccolo, Native American piccolo, pan piccolo, Arabian piccolo, and any other piccolo.
If you play an alto piccolo or any other transposable piccolo, you can play the B-flat major scale without any transposition. But while running the B-flat major scale with another instrument that is not transposable, you will then have to transpose to the right key in other to sound the same with them in pitch.
B-flat major scale piccolo notes and arpeggio
The B-flat major scale can be played up to two octaves on a C piccolo, the standard concert piccolo. The first note of this scale on the C piccolo is the B-flat note on the third line of the treble clef which in the range is the Bb5. The notes or alphabets that you will play to get this scale correctly include; Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb. The two-octave arpeggio of this scale has its notes as Bb, D, F, Bb, D, F, Bb, F, D, Bb, F, D, Bb.
Notable piccolo compositions in B-flat major
- 6 Variations for piccolo, Op.55 by Kreith Charles
- Concertino for 2 piccolos in B-flat major, MWV 10.34 by Molter Johann Melchior
- Concerto for piccolo d’amore in B-flat major, MWV 6.14 by Molter Johann Melchior
- Concerto for 2 piccolos and 2 Oboes in B-flat major, GWV 344 by Graupner Christoph
- Concerto for 2 piccolos in B-flat major by Hasse Johann Adolph
- Concerto for 2 piccolos, Oboe and Violin, TWV 54:B1 by Telemann Georg Philipp
- Der Heiland ruht auf Flut und Wellen, GWV 1115/43 by Graupner Christoph
- Duet for 2 piccolos, TWV 40:130 Telemann Georg Philipp
- Duet for 2 piccolos, TWV 40:134 by Telemann Georg Philipp
- piccolo Concerto in B-flat major, IGS 3 by Sammartini Giuseppe
- piccolo Concerto No.2 in B-flat major by Vanhal Johann Baptist
- piccolo Quartet in B-flat major, B.385 by Pleyel Ignaz
- piccolo Quartet in B-flat major, DTB XV/1.14 by Vogler Georg Joseph
- piccolo Quartet No.2, Op.10 by Balparda de Carvalho Daniel
- piccolo Quintet in B-flat major by Vanhal Johann Baptist
- piccolo Sonata in B-flat major, Anh.4 by Beethoven Ludwig van
- piccolo Sonata in B-flat major, H.552 by Bach Carl Philipp Emanuel
- piccolo Sonata in B-flat major, Op.1 No.3 by Bon Anna
- piccolo Sonata in B-flat major, QV 1:161 by Quantz Johann Joachim
- piccolo Sonata in B-flat major, QV 1:162 by Quantz Johann Joachim
- piccolo Sonata in B-flat major, SpiF 112 by Frederick II
- piccolo Sonata in B-flat major, SpiF 182 by Frederick IIpiccolo Sonata in B-flat major, SpiF 76 by Frederick II
- piccolo Sonata No.6 in B-flat major by Bach Johann Christoph Friedrich
- piccolo Sonata No.9 in B-flat major, Gjedde coll. by Ræhs Martin
- piccolo Sonata, Op.121 by Karg-Elert Sigfrid
- Romance for piccolo and Piano by German Edward
