Reference : accidentals

Note pitches can be modified by using accidentals:

Accidental Name Effect
sharp sharp Raises the note 1 half step
flat flat Lowers the note 1 half step
double sharp double sharp Raises the note 2 half steps or 1 whole step
double flat double flat Lowers the note 2 half steps or 1 whole step
natural natural Cancels any previous accidental

In music writing an accidental affects every note of the same name, same voice and in the same octave within a measure. In the following example the last G note is sharp (we would need to add a natural sign if we wanted it natural):

example

Go to Whole and Half Steps for more information on accidentals and their relationship to the piano.

See Reading Music in the Tutorials section.

  

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José Rodríguez Alvira.