What are accidentals?
Accidentals are notes that the composer put there by accident.
No.
Accidentals are not notes that were put there by accident, they are notes that are outside of the key signature.
If this circle represents the notes that are inside the key signature, then this smaller circle over here would
represent the notes that are accidentals.
They're not in the key signature, but they're there as an option.
So how do accidentals work?
Accidentals are marked with these symbols.
A 'flat' sign means play the note a semitone lower.
A 'sharp' sign means play the note a semitone higher.
A 'natural' sign means play the note without any sharps or flats.
Accidentals are only played when marked, and that only lasts until the end of the bar.
In this example, the first note is a Bb and the second note is a B♮ because of the accidental marking on it.
That only lasts until the end of the bar.
So in the next bar, any B's that are written (unless otherwise marked), will be Bb.
Because that is the note in the key signature.
Accidentals are like the sriracha of music.
Composers can use them to add a different flavour by using notes outside of the key signature.
Flats, sharps and naturals are the most common accidentals.
But there are less common accidentals like double sharps and double flats.
A double sharp raises a note in the key signature by two semitones, and a double flat lowers a note in the key signature by two semitones.
And there are even more rare accidentals like half sharps and half flats
which get into things like microtones, which we won't get into today.
Just know they're out there.
Okay, let's review.
A flat will tell you to play a note one semitone lower than what is in the key signature.
In this example, there are no sharps or flats in the key signature.
So if we see a B with a flat sign, we would lower the B♮ to a Bb.
A sharp sign will tell you to play a note one semitone higher than what is written in the key signature.
In this example, there are no sharps or flats in the key signature.
So if we see an F#, we will raise the F♮ to an F#.
And a natural sign will tell you to play a note without any sharps or flats.
In this example, we already have a key signature with F# and C# in it.
So if we see an F♮, we would play an F without the sharp.
Thanks for watching, let me know what you think in the comments below, and I'll see you next time.
