Now that you have learned "Sharps" you are ready to learn about "Flats." This is the black note's other name.

The word "Flat" is also like short hand in typing. It's a short hand way of saying that you are to move 1 "half step" down the keyboard.

As an example, go to "E" on the keyboard. Move down (left) to the first black key (1-half step). You are now on the "Flat" of "E." Another way of saying this is that you have "Flatted" E.

"I think of it as bending the note downward to make the note sound lower or trying to flatten it. And, sharping the note makes the note sound higher."

Hence, the name of this black note is "E Flat." Now go to "A" and move down 1 "half step" to the nearest black key. The name of this black key is "A Flat."

Whenever you see the symbol "" on the staff next to a note, it means that the composer wants you to play a note that is 1 "half step" down from the note he or she has shown on the staff. Let's look at how that is written on the staff. Go to the next page.