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
Dynamic Marking
View all notationterms →A symbol or abbreviation indicating the volume at which music should be played, from very soft to very loud.
Articulation MarkingsSymbols placed above or below notes to indicate how they should be attacked, sustained, or released.
SlurA curved line connecting two or more notes of different pitch to indicate they should be played smoothly and connected.
ClefA symbol placed at the beginning of a staff to indicate the pitch of the notes.
Tempo MarkingA word or phrase placed at the beginning of a piece or section indicating the speed at which it should be performed.
Synonyms
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v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →