Sharps and Flats

Sharps and Flats

In any scale there is a series of eight notes, which are separated by wholetone or semitone intervals. In the latter case, often a black key is consulted for the required pitch. If the interval is a raised pitch it is known as a sharp; a lowered semitone is a flat. Sharps and flats are called accidentals. In a piece of music written in a key with many sharps or flats, the music would be confusing to read due to all the print in the limited space of manuscript paper. In the 1700s a system called key signatures was developed which effectively eliminated this problem. [AW] {JO}