ACCIDENTALS

SIR RONEL PORCINO

LET’S LEARN!
The musical symbols you
describe in Take Off are the
sharp, flat and natural signs.
They change the pitch of a note
that they are attached to. These
symbols are collectively known
as accidentals. They can raise or
lower the pitch of a note and
appear beside a note in a
measure.
We see signs and symbols everywhere. Signs and symbols are also used in music.
These signs and symbols help you read and interpret music correctly. Accidentals are
signs placed immediately to the left of (or above) a note to show that the note must
be changed in pitch.
Accidentals modify musical notes and they come in five forms.

An accidental affect only the note

that it is next to. When an accidental
is written next to a note, every other
note on the same line or space in the
bar or measure is affected. However,
the effect of the accidental is only
until the bar line of the measure. The
bar line cancels the effect of the
accidental. In some cases, a natural
sign ( ) that follows the notes with
the sharp or flat signs also cancels
the effect of accidentals.
EXAMPLE:

A natural sign ( ) placed beside a note cancels the previous accidentals(

or #) of the same pitch.

 Look at the keyboard. Study how the sharp and flat notes
relate to the portion of the keyboard.

TRIVIA: The arrangement of the pitches/syllable names on the staff depends on the clef indicated at the beginning.
If the G clef or treble clef is used, the pitches/syllable names are arranged as follows:
MUSIC AND EVERYDAY LIFE!
Accidentals are musical symbols that are used to change the pitch of
notes in a musical composition. They are like people and events that you
encounter every day that affect or influence you in different ways. They
may affect or influence you in a negative or positive way. These changes
or influences are part of your growth and development. You should learn
how to sustain or cultivate the positive things in you. At the same time,
you should also learn how to turn negative things or traits into positive
ones. Learn to change your weaknesses into strengths. If you can do this,
you always come out to be a better person.