1) What accidentals are (sharp, flat, natural)
An accidental is a symbol placed directly in front of a notehead that temporarily changes that note’s pitch. Accidentals change a note by one semitone (one step to the very next key on the piano, whether black or white).
- Sharp (♯): raises a note by one semitone.
- Flat (♭): lowers a note by one semitone.
- Natural (♮): cancels a sharp or flat and returns the note to its “plain” letter name within the current measure.
Think “nearest key”: a sharp moves to the next key to the right; a flat moves to the next key to the left. The next key might be black or white depending on where you start.
| Starting note | With sharp (♯) | With flat (♭) |
|---|---|---|
| C | C♯ (black key right of C) | C♭ (B, white key left of C) |
| E | E♯ (F, white key right of E) | E♭ (black key left of E) |
| F | F♯ (black key right of F) | F♭ (E, white key left of F) |
Notice: not every sharp or flat lands on a black key. For example, E♯ is F and C♭ is B. For beginner pieces you’ll most often see accidentals that point to black keys, but it’s important to know the rule is always “one semitone.”
2) Keyboard mapping: naming black keys by neighboring white keys
Black keys are easiest to identify by the white keys next to them. Each black key usually has two names: a sharp name (from the white key on its left) and a flat name (from the white key on its right).
Find black keys using the groups of 2 and 3
- Group of 2 black keys: the left one is between C and D; the right one is between D and E.
- Group of 3 black keys: from left to right they are between F–G, G–A, and A–B.
Black-key name map (most common beginner spellings)
| Black key location | Sharp name | Flat name | How to find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Between C and D | C♯ | D♭ | Right of C / left of D |
| Between D and E | D♯ | E♭ | Right of D / left of E |
| Between F and G | F♯ | G♭ | Right of F / left of G |
| Between G and A | G♯ | A♭ | Right of G / left of A |
| Between A and B | A♯ | B♭ | Right of A / left of B |
Step-by-step: how to locate an accidental quickly
- Say the letter name you see (example: C).
- Check the accidental (♯, ♭, or ♮).
- Move one semitone: right for ♯, left for ♭, “back to plain” for ♮.
- Confirm with landmarks: use the 2-black-key or 3-black-key group to verify you’re on the intended key.
3) How long accidentals last (scope within a measure)
In beginner reading, use this core rule:
- Listen to the audio with the screen off.
- Earn a certificate upon completion.
- Over 5000 courses for you to explore!
Download the app
- An accidental affects that note name for the rest of the measure (in the same octave where it appears).
- When you cross a bar line, the accidental resets and the note returns to its normal form (unless the new measure shows the accidental again).
Example of what this means in practice: if you see an F♯, then later in the same measure you see another F (same octave) with no symbol, you still play F♯. In the next measure, an F with no symbol goes back to F natural.
Natural signs (♮) as “cancellers”
If a note has been sharpened or flattened earlier in the measure, a natural sign returns it to the plain white-key version for the remainder of that measure.
Mini example idea to visualize: in one measure you might see B♭ first, and later B♮. That means: play B-flat first, then switch back to B natural when the natural sign appears.
4) Reading drills: one accidental at a time
Goal: build a fast habit—see symbol → say altered name → play correct key. Keep rhythm simple and focus on accuracy.
How to practice each drill (repeat for every measure)
- Point and say each note name out loud, including the accidental (example: “C-sharp”).
- Find the key using the “neighbor” rule (C♯ = black key right of C).
- Play slowly with steady counting.
- Replay and try to reduce hesitation between reading and playing.
Drill Set A: C♯ only (right hand)
Play each measure twice. Speak the note names before you play.
Measure 1: C C♯ D C | Measure 2: E D C♯ D | Measure 3: C♯ C♯ D E | Measure 4: E D C C♯Keyboard check: every time you say “C-sharp,” your finger goes to the black key immediately to the right of C.
Drill Set B: B♭ only (left hand)
Measure 1: C B♭ A B♭ | Measure 2: B♭ C D C | Measure 3: A B♭ C A | Measure 4: D C B♭ CKeyboard check: B♭ is the black key immediately to the left of B (also the black key to the right of A).
Drill Set C: Natural sign inside the measure
In these measures, the natural sign changes what you do later in the same bar.
Measure 1: B♭ B♭ B♮ C | Measure 2: F♯ G F♮ E | Measure 3: C♯ D C♮ B | Measure 4: E♭ D E♮ FSay the change clearly: “B-flat, B-flat, B-natural, C.” The goal is to feel the “switch” when the ♮ appears.
5) Mini-pieces: easy melodies with one or two accidentals
Keep your hand relaxed and your position steady. These short pieces are designed so the only new challenge is noticing and executing the accidental.
Mini-Piece 1: “Black Key Neighbor” (uses F♯)
Focus: F♯ appears as the black key to the right of F. Everything else stays on nearby white keys.
Measure 1: G F♯ G A | Measure 2: G F♯ E D | Measure 3: E F♯ G A | Measure 4: G E D DMini-Piece 2: “Two-Name Black Key” (uses E♭)
Focus: E♭ is the black key to the left of E (also D♯, but here you will read it as E♭). Say “E-flat” each time.
Measure 1: E♭ F G F | Measure 2: E♭ D C D | Measure 3: E♭ F G A | Measure 4: G F E♭ DMini-Piece 3: “Accidental Then Natural” (uses B♭ then B♮)
Focus: the natural sign changes the note back within the same measure. Keep the rhythm even; don’t pause at the ♮.
Measure 1: C B♭ A B♮ | Measure 2: C D C B♮ | Measure 3: A B♭ C D | Measure 4: C B♮ A APractice checklist for mini-pieces
- Before playing, circle the accidentals on your page (mentally or with a pencil).
- Say the altered note names out loud once: “F-sharp”, “E-flat”, “B-flat… B-natural”.
- Play slowly enough that you never guess which key to use.
- If you miss an accidental, stop and replay the single measure correctly three times.
