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Sharp – Definition
A sharp (♯) is an accidental that raises a note by one semitone.
What is a Sharp?
A sharp increases the pitch of a note by one semitone. Sharps may appear in a key signature, where they apply throughout the piece unless cancelled, or as accidentals that temporarily alter individual notes within a measure.
In equal temperament, a sharp raises a note to the next higher pitch. For example, F becomes F♯ and C becomes C♯. Depending on the musical context, a sharp may also be enharmonically equivalent to another note, such as F♯ and G♭.
How is a Sharp used in piano playing?
Pianists encounter sharps in key signatures, scales, chords, and melodies. Recognizing sharp notes quickly is essential for fluent music reading and accurate performance.
Understanding sharps also helps pianists learn major and minor keys, transpose music, and recognize enharmonic relationships across the keyboard.