There’s More to Playing the Piano

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Chapter 3 - Sharps and Flats

The black notes on the piano are often known as the sharps and flats.

This is a sharp sign - . It indicates that you should play one semitone higher (sharper) than the printed note. One semitone higher is the very next note to the right on the piano.

This is a flat sign - . It indicates that you should play one semitone lower (flatter) than the printed note. One semitone lower is the very next note to the left on the piano.

This is a natural sign - . It indicates that you should play the white note on the piano. The natural sign is used only when necessary to cancel a sharp or flat sign.

Sharps and flats are often printed at the very start of a piece of music. These sharps and flats are known as key signatures

Other sharps, flats and naturals that occur during the course of a piece of music are known as accidentals. They affect a note for the duration of a bar. Accidentals act only on the note they are drawn next to, not notes that are an octave higher or lower.

There are also double sharps and double flats which raise or lower notes by two semitones.

G is an enharmonic equivalent of A. That means that the two notes sound the same but are spelt differently. A is an enharmonic equivalent of G.

At the piano There are several tunes that we call “Chopsticks”. At least two of them are played primarily on the black notes of the piano. Try to find a friend who can show you how to play Chopsticks.