Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
“What purpose do accidentals serve in reading sheet music?” Sharps, flats, and naturals (collectively called accidentals) grew out of a problem that needed to be fixed in the mediaeval music notation. The music theorists of the time slapped their fix onto the preexisting notation system, and that fix is still with us to this day. However, having confused generations of budding musicians, the results of the fix leave a lot to be desired. Read more to answer the question, “What purpose do accidentals serve in reading sheet music?”
This post uses music terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the article.
The Purpose Accidentals Serve in Reading Sheet Music: The Gamut
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“What purpose do accidentals serve in reading sheet music?” Their purpose is tied to the fact that sharps, flats, and naturals evolved later than the music staff. This has as much to do with music theory as it does with music notation and has links to Guido d’Arezzo’s solfege system.
- Simply put, the medieval theorists had seven notes lettered: A, B, C, D, E, F, G. In addition, they had an extra note for Bb (B flat). They called B the “hard B” and Bb the “soft B”.
- This explains why the flat sign looks like a lower-case B, because it started out as the note Bb. These notes, sung with the help of Guido’s Solfege system, made up the “gamut” of notes.
- The word gamut began life as a musical term. It signified the lowest note gamma-ut, ut being a solfege syllable that they later replaced with do. Therefore, the word gamut meant the full range of medieval notes: A, Bb, B, C, D, E, F, G.
Then, the singers screwed everything up when they started singing the equivalent of C#/Db, D#/Eb, F#/Gb, and G#/Ab.
Musica Ficta Helps to Explain the Purpose Accidentals Serve in Reading Sheet Music
“What purpose do accidentals serve in reading sheet music?” Their purpose comes directly from the need for more notes in the notation system.
- The medieval theorists called the four extra sharp/flat notes musica ficta, or “fictional music”, because they existed outside of the gamut. The current practice of calling the white keys on the keyboard naturals and the black keys accidentals stems from this time. They literally considered the black key notes to be accidents.
- The singers could sing the musica ficta notes, but the score didn’t notate them. Around 1600 AD, symbols representing sharps, flats, and naturals began to appear.
- Flat notes used the soft B symbol (b). The flat sign lowers any note by a half step. The natural sign and the sharp sign (#) grew out of the sign representing the hard B. The sharp sign raises a note by a half step while a natural sign cancels out a sharp or flat.
By the late eighteenth century, key signatures (the sharps or flats to the left of the time signature) came into use. Key signatures help to de-clutter the score, so you don’t have to read too many accidentals.
Concluding Thoughts to “What Purpose Do Accidentals Serve in Reading Sheet Music?”
“What purpose do accidentals serve in reading sheet music?” The medieval theorists cooked up accidentals to fix a problem with their theory and notation. This added four extra notes that they needed for their music. However, because of the white key semitones (i.e., no black keys between E & F or B & C), the system of accidentals ended up being asymmetrical. This makes the whole system harder for musicians to understand.
Here’s a tip: If you focus on what each accidental does, it helps make things less confusing:
- Sharp signs: raise any “white key” note by a half step (the next key to the right on the keyboard)
- Flat signs: lower any “white key” note by a half step (the next key to the left on the keyboard)
- Natural signs: cancel out any sharps or flats (always a white key on the keyboard)
If you know where accidentals come from, it makes their purpose clear. Hopefully, it’ll also make how they work a little less confusing.
Related Posts
- Why Do Minor Keys Sound Sad to Me?
- Do I Really Have to Learn Music Theory to Learn How to Play Piano?
- What Are the Small “>” Signs Above or Below the Notes?
- How Can Legato Notes Be Played Staccato?
- Why Do Pianists Occasionally Play Their Hands at Different Times as They Perform?
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
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Glossary
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