Sharps, Flats, and Enharmonics
A.K.A.
The Black Keys
Sharps

Sharp-raises a pitch a half step (sounds
higher)

Notation-

The middle of the sharp sign must be in the
same location as the note
#
#
Note is third space, center of sharp is
third space….they must match!
Sharps

The sharp sign (#) is always placed
BEFORE a note when written in the
music.
#

C#
Or
C-sharp
The sharp sign (#) is written AFTER the
note name, when writing things in English.
Sharps
#
#
#
#
#
F#
C# G#
D# A#
Sharps

Individual Practice-complete the
worksheet naming sharps
Flats
Flat-lowers a pitch a half step (sounds
lower)
 Notation  The middle of the “b” must be in the
same location as the note.

Note is second space, center of flat is
second space….they must match!
Flats

The flat sign ( ) is always placed BEFORE
a note when written in the music.
C
Or
C-flat

The flat sign ( ) is written AFTER the
note name, when writing things in English.
Flats
A
C
E
G
D
F
Flats

Individual practice-complete the
worksheet naming flats
Sharps on the Piano
Remember: half-steps are the next closest
touching key.
 Sharps will always be the next closest key
to the RIGHT.

C# D#
C
D
F# G# A#
F
G
A
C# D#
C
D
F# G# A#
F
G
A
Sharps on the Piano


E# and B# are different.
Moving up a half-step for them means
moving to the white key to the right.
E

F
E#
B
C
B#
E
F
E#
B
C
B#
What are the names of the E# and B# keys
normally?
Enharmonics
Enharmonics are different notes that land
on the same piano key.
 B# is the same key as C
 E# is the same key as F
 This also means that these different note
names will make the same sound.

Flats on the Piano
Remember: half-steps are the next closet
touching key.
 Flats will always be the next closest key
to the LEFT

E
D
D
G
E
A
G
B
A
E
D
B
D
G
E
A
G
B
A
B
Flats on the Piano
C and F are different
 Moving down a half-step for them means
moving to the white key to the left.

E
F

B
F
C
B
E
C
F
What are the names of C
normally?
F
C
and F
C
Enharmonics
Enharmonics are different notes that land
on the same piano key.
 C is the same key as B
 F is the same key as E
 This also means that these different note
names will make the same sound

Enharmonics

All names of all keys…lots of
enharmonics!
C# D#
D E
C
F
D E
F# G# A#
G A B
E#
F
G
C
A B
C# D#
D E
B#
F
C D E
F# G# A#
G A B
E#
F
G
A
C
B
B#
C
Enharmonics

Individual practice
◦ Write the name of each note on the line
provided
◦ Compare the two notes tee see if they are
enharmonics
◦ If they are enharmonics, highlight them yellow