In music, sharp means "raise the pitch" and flat means "lower
the pitch". Here are the symbols for sharp and flat: ♯ = sharp (raise the pitch)
♭ = flat (lower the pitch)
We use "sharp" and "flat" to name the black pitches. For example,
the black pitch just above C is called
C sharp (C♯). But this black pitch is also just below
D, so it can also be called D flat (D♭). Here it is
on the keyboard:
Now we can name all the black pitches:
Notice that every black pitch has two names; it can be named with
either sharp ♯ or flat ♭. Study the keyboard
above until you understand how to name all the pitches, white and black.
Next:
Learn about half-steps and whole-steps in
Lesson 6: Half-Steps & Whole-Steps, which you
will need to understand scales, chords, and melodies.
