In music, sharp – eqv. (from French) or (from Greek ) – means higher in pitch. The sharp symbol, ♯, indicates that the note to which the symbol is applied is played one chromatic semitone higher. The opposite of sharp is flat, indicating a lowering of pitch. The symbol derives from a square form of the letter b.
Examples
The sharp symbol is used in key signatures or as an accidental applied to a single note. Below is a staff with a key signature containing three sharps (A major or F♯ minor) and a sharp symbol placed on the note, indicating that it is an A instead of an A.
:<score> {
\omit Score.TimeSignature \relative c { \key a \major ais1 } }
</score>
In twelve-tone equal temperament tuning (the predominant system of tuning in Western music), raising a note's pitch by a semitone results in a note that is enharmonically equivalent to another named note. For example, E and F would be equivalent. This is not the case in most non-standard tuning systems.
Variants
A double sharp is indicated by the symbol and raises a note by two chromatic semitones (a whole tone in 12-tone equal temperament). Double sharps were sometimes written 13px, 18px or 16px.
:<score> { \omit Score.TimeSignature \relative c { bisis1 } }</score>
A or demisharp () raises a note by approximately a quarter tone. A sharp-and-a-half, three-quarter-tone sharp or sesquisharp () raises a note by three quarter tones.
:<score>{
\omit Score.TimeSignature \relative c { dih1 eisih } }</score>
A triple sharp ( or ) is extremely rare. It raises a note by three chromatic semitones (a whole tone plus a semitone in 12-tone equal temperament). The B below would be enharmonic with D natural.
:<score> { \omit Score.TimeSignature \relative c {
\tweak Accidental.stencil #ly:text-interface::print \tweak Accidental.text \markup { \concat { \sharp \doublesharp bis1
} }</score> The combination ♮♯ can be also written when changing a flat to a sharp.
:<score> { \omit Score.TimeSignature \relative c {
bisis2 bis \accidentalStyle modern bisis2 bis } }
</score>
- In environments where the symbol is not supported a double sharp can be written using two single sharp signs (♯♯), hash signs (##) or a lower-case letter x. Likewise, a triple sharp can be written as ♯♯♯.
- To allow extended just intonation, composer Ben Johnston uses a sharp to indicate a note is raised 70.6 cents (ratio 25:24).
See also
- Flat (music)
- Electronic tuner
Notes
References
fi:Etumerkki (musiikki)#Tavalliset