The B-flat major scale is: Many transposing instruments are pitched in B-flat major, including the clarinet, trumpet, tenor saxophone, and soprano saxophone.

As a result, B-flat major is one of the most popular keys for concert band compositions.

The scale degree chords of B-flat major are: Joseph Haydn's Symphony No.

98 is often credited as the first symphony written in that key, including trumpet and timpani parts.

Nonetheless, Joseph Haydn still gets credit for writing the timpani part at actual pitch with an F major key signature (instead of transposing with a C major key signature), a procedure that made sense since he limited that instrument to the tonic and dominant pitches.