Music Fundamentals A Balanced Approach

Theory Trainer

Exercise 4aFind white/black keys on the staff.

Drawing Accidentals on the Staff

Accidentals are used within the body of a piece of music to raise or lower the pitch of a note.

• Accidentals drawn on the staff are placed precisely on the same line or in the same space as the note being
  modified and directly in front of the note. However, when labeling a note, accidentals followthe letter
  name: we draw “sharp F” and say “F sharp.”


• An accidental lasts for one complete measure or until another accidental cancels it. In both measures below,
  the first and second E’s are flatted, but the third E is not.


• Bar lines cancel previous accidentals. For example, the second measure begins with an E natural.


• An accidental applies only to a note on oneline or space; notes an octave higher or lower are not affected
  by previous accidentals. For example, the third C is a natural but the last C is sharped.

90

During the Middle Ages (approximately AD475 to 1450) a squared shaped “ ” was used to raise the B flat to B natural. Eventually,

the shape for any natural was altered to its modern-day design and now cancels a previous accidental. To draw a natural, combine

an “L” with a “ ”.

Historical note: The natural

MODULE 4

L

Correctly placed accidentals

F sharp B flat

E bbbbE E G C E E E G C

C D E b G E C D C

Incorrectly placed accidentals

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