Accidental
A symbol placed before a note to raise or lower its pitch by a semitone or whole tone, overriding the key signature.
Category
notation
Pronunciation
/ˌæksɪˈdɛntəl/
Origin
Latin (accidentalis)
Length
181 words · 1 min read
About Accidental
Accidentals are the sharp, flat, and natural signs that modify individual notes within a bar. A sharp raises a note by one semitone, a flat lowers it by one semitone, and a natural cancels any previous accidental or key-signature alteration.
More notation terms
Repeat Sign
View all notationterms →A pair of dots and double barlines that instruct the performer to replay a section of music.
Dynamic MarkingA symbol or abbreviation indicating the volume at which music should be played, from very soft to very loud.
Ledger LineA short horizontal line drawn above or below the staff to extend its range for notes too high or too low to fit.
FermataA held note or rest; pause at the performer's discretion.
StaffThe set of five horizontal lines and four spaces on which musical notes are written.
Synonyms
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v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →