Piano Lesson - Music Accidentals And Their Functions
A flat sign (b) lowers the pitch of a note a half step. If we look at a piano, the black key to the left of a white keyis a half step lower. Flat does not always fall on a black key. Cb is also a "B" note; the half step down of C is B
and thus it is called the Cb.
A sharp sign (#) raises the pitch of a note a half step.
The black key to the right of a white key is a half step higher. Sharp does not always fall on a black key. E# is
also called "F". An half step up from E is called E#, which happens to be "F"!
A natural sign ( 
) cancels the effect of a flat or sharp. Flats, sharps, and naturals are called ACCIDENTALS
signs. When they are placed before a note, they affect every note on the same line or space for an entire
measure. A natural sign cancels the flat or sharp within the same measure.
When saying a flatted note's name, we say the letter name first and the flat next - A flat. When we write it on
the music, the flat sign comes first.
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