Lesson 14: B-flat and the Key of F Major
- Play Bb4 with the correct cross-fingering.
- Play Eb5 with the correct cross-fingering.
- Play an F-major scale fragment and a carol opening.
- Play a Bb-major scale fragment and a carol opening.
One flat opens a new key.
A flat sign (b) lowers a note by one half-step. In F major, the flat beside the clef makes every B a Bb.
Your new note is Eb, one half-step below E. Your staff reads Bb major; the two flats beside the clef make every B and E flat.
Bb
Eb
Thumb on; left index down, middle up, ring down; right index down.
Change to the new fingering silently first, then play at a comfortable speed.
Play: Deck the Halls
F major puts Bb inside the “fa-la-la” runs.
Bb major puts Eb inside the “fa-la-la” runs.
Now play these
- Deck the Halls
- Practise the opening eight bars now; return for the higher bridge after Lesson 18.
- Pavane: Belle qui tiens ma vie
- G Dorian: B-flat and cadential F-sharps.
- C Dorian: B-flat, E-flat and cadential B-naturals.
- Frère Jacques
- The new note arrives in bar 3; keep each repeated phrase steady.
- Scarborough Fair — Kidson’s Whitby air
- A complete historical variant with the new flat and a quarter note pickup.
When the scale fragment and carol opening keep a steady beat through the new note, move on to Lesson 15.
Cross-fingered note popping out too loud? See troubleshooting.