“Courtesy” Accidentals
Earlier, we discussed that an accidental placed within a measure applies to the appropriate pitch or pitches
within that measure or until another accidental cancels it. When a sharp or flat in a key signatureneeds to be
cancelled, an accidental is added just in front of the note to be altered. For example, in the song “Blue Hawaii”
anatural sign appears in the first complete measure to cancel the B flat in the key signature.
“Blue Hawaii” (L. Robin, R. Rainger)
The flat shown in the third complete measure is added as a “courtesy” accidental reminding the performer that
the previous natural sign applies only to the B in the first measure, and the B in measure 3 is flatted again.
Courtesy accidentals are placed in the music to remind performers of the correct pitches.
Exercise 9
Circle the courtesy accidentals.
- Sonatina in F (Third Movement) (F.J. Haydn)
- Waltz from “Adventures of Ivan” (A. Khachaturian)
Reminder: Notes with accidentals that are tied across a bar line continue to be altered by the accidental.
179
MAJOR SCALE KEY SIGNATURESBn Bb
‘Courtesy’ accidental