Music notes can be made sharp or flat to sound higher or lower, like stepping up or down on a piano keyboard.
What is a sharp note?
A sharp note is played one-half step higher than the regular note. We show this with a ♯ symbol. When you see F♯, you play the one-half step higher note than F. On a piano, this means playing the black key right above F.
What is a flat note?
A flat note is played one-half step lower than the regular note. We show this with a ♭ symbol. When you see B♭, you play the note that's one-half step lower than B. On a piano, this means playing the black key right below B.
How they work together
Sometimes, the same note can have two different names. For example, F♯ and G♭ are the same note - they're just written differently. Musicians call this enharmonic spelling.
Using sharps and flats in songs
Songs often use sharps and flats to create different moods and sounds. Most songs follow a specific key signature, which tells you which notes should be played as sharps or flats throughout the piece.
Why do we need them
Sharps and flats give musicians more notes to work with. Instead of just having the basic notes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G), we can also play the notes between them. This helps create richer melodies and more interesting harmonies.
Learning to use them
When first learning music, you might find sharps and flats confusing. That's normal. Most people start by learning the basic notes and then gradually add sharps and flats as they get more comfortable. With practice, they become as natural as any other part of music.