Accidentals

Sharp

Sharp

________: raises a note a half step.

There are two notes with sharps that are white keys

E sharp (E ) and B sharp (B )

Double sharp

raises a note two half steps

Flat

lowers a note a half step

There are two notes with flats that are white keys

F flat (Fb) and C flat (Cb)

Double flat

lowers a note two half steps

Natural

cancels a previous accidental

Sharp: On the keyboard,

move to the nearest note to the right.

The black key C sharp is

a half step higher in pitch than the white key C.

The white key E sharp is

a half step higher in pitch than the white key E.

The black key A sharp is

a half step higher in pitch than the white key A.

When a note has more than one spelling, this is called

an enharmonic spelling.

Flat: On the keyboard,

move to the nearest note to the left.

The white key F flat is

a half step lower in pitch than the white key F.

The black key B flat is

a half step lower in pitch than the white key B.

There are two notes with flats that are white keys:

F flat (Fb) and C flat (Cb).

F flat is the enharmonic equivalent to

E

C flat is the enharmonic equivalent to

B.

B# corresponds to

C

E# corresponds to

F

All naturals are

white keys.

The white key C natural is

a half step lower than C sharp.

The white key F natural is

a half step higher than F flat.

The white key B natural is

a half step higher than B flat.

Accidentals drawn on the staff are

placed precisely on the same line or in the same space as the note being modified and directly in front of the note.

However, when labeling a note, accidentals

follow the letter name

An accidental lasts for

one complete measure or until another accidental cancels it.

Bar lines

cancel previous accidentals.

An accidental applies only to

a note on one line or space; notes an octave higher or lower are not affected by previous accidentals.

A “courtesy” accidental may be

placed in front of a note as a reminder.