Lesson 4 - Accidentals (Sharps and Flats)

Terms:

accidentals
sharp, flat, natural, double-sharp, double-flat
the black keys of the keyboard

Accidentals are symbols, or “signs,” used with the letters of the musical alphabet to name notes, pitches, or keys on the keyboard. The same symbols are also used to denote pitches in staff notation. The five accidentals shown in the example below are commonly used: the sharp, the flat, the natural, the double-flat and the double-sharp. Sharps and flats are most often used in naming the black keys of the keyboard or in notating the corresponding pitches on the staff. The other signs will be discussed in the next lesson.

[example showing the 5 accidentals]


	Lesson 4 - Accidentals (Sharps and Flats)	\| Contents \| Previous \| Next \|
	Terms: accidentals sharp, flat, natural, double-sharp, double-flat the black keys of the keyboard Accidentals are symbols, or “signs,” used with the letters of the musical alphabet to name notes, pitches, or keys on the keyboard. The same symbols are also used to denote pitches in staff notation. The five accidentals shown in the example below are commonly used: the sharp, the flat, the natural, the double-flat and the double-sharp. Sharps and flats are most often used in naming the black keys of the keyboard or in notating the corresponding pitches on the staff. The other signs will be discussed in the next lesson. [example showing the 5 accidentals] \| Contents \| Previous \| Next \|