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An accidental is a musical symbol that raises, lowers or cancels the pitch of a note. The most common accidentals are the sharp (♯), flat (♭) and natural (♮).
What is an accidental?
Accidentals temporarily change the pitch of a note within a measure. A sharp (♯) raises a note by one semitone, a flat (♭) lowers it by one semitone, and a natural (♮) cancels a previous sharp or flat.
Accidentals differ from a key signature, which applies throughout a piece or until a new key signature appears.
How are accidentals used in piano playing?
Piano players use accidentals to identify when a note should be played on a different key than expected from the key signature. Reading accidentals accurately is essential for correct pitch, fluent sight-reading and confident performance.
Understanding accidentals is a fundamental skill for reading music and playing in every key.