Sharps, Flats, and Naturals
Practice reading accidentals, enharmonic spellings, and how long an accidental lasts.
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Questions Covered in This Set
10 cards to master
What does a sharp (♯) do to a note?
Raises it by a half step — the very next key to the right on a piano.
What does a flat (♭) do to a note?
Lowers it by a half step — the next key to the left.
What does a natural (♮) do?
Cancels a previous sharp or flat, returning the note to its plain white-key pitch.
Where is an accidental written, and how do you say it?
Written immediately to the LEFT of the notehead on the same line or space; spoken letter first, e.g. 'F sharp'.
What are enharmonic equivalents?
Two different note names that sound the same pitch (same piano key), e.g. C♯ and D♭.
Why does E♯ equal F, and C♭ equal B?
E–F and B–C are already only a half step apart with no black key between them.
How long does an accidental last?
For the rest of the measure, only on that exact line/space, and only in that voice/staff — the barline cancels it.
What happens to an accidental on a note tied across a barline?
It carries through the tie because it's the same sounding note; new separate notes after the barline are unaffected.
What is a courtesy accidental?
A helpful reminder accidental (often in parentheses) editors add to prevent confusion, even though the rule doesn't require it.
Name the pitches: ♯G G A ♮G G
G♯, G♯, A, G, G
