accidentals
Accidentals are signs used in musical notation to alter the pitch of a note from the pitch indicated by the prevailing key signature. The most common accidentals are sharps, flats, and naturals. Sharps raise a pitch by a semitone, flats lower a pitch by a semitone, and naturals cancel the effect of the key signature or any prior accidental for that pitch within the same measure. Double sharps and double flats indicate pitches two semitones away from the natural pitch. In some modern scores, microtonal accidentals specify pitches between the standard semitones.
Scope and interaction with key signatures: An accidental applies to all notes of the same letter name
Function and usage: Accidentals create chromatic alteration, enabling melodies and harmonies to move outside the diatonic
Variations and notation: While sharps, flats, and naturals are standard, composers may employ double accidentals or