Learn To Read Sheet Music

Learn to read sheet music. Welcome to lesson four of our simple guide to help you leanr to read music.

In this lesson we are going to learn what a sharp is, what a flat is and what a natural is. Sharps and flats relate to musical notes. For example we could play a B flat or an F sharp.

But how would you show this on a music sheet?

Learn To Read Sheet Music - The Flat

If we were reading music and we saw a note with the flat symbol in front of it we would know the play the note flat

Nothing too complicated about that. We just need to learn our sharps and flats so we can play them when asked to do so on the music.

We also need to learn our scales as these will denote which notes to play sharp and which to play flat, if any.

Learn To Read Sheet Music - The Sharp

The sharp is shown by what is basically a hash sign. We all know this from our mobile phones.

It works in pretty much the same way as the flat. The symbol is placed before the note indicating the note needs to be played sharp.

Learn To Read Music - The Natural

What on earth is a natural? Well it's aim is to show you that a note on the sheet should be played neither sharp nor flat.

Basically the note should be played as intended. In this case a normal C.

To understand why you need a symbol to show why a note needs to be played natural take a look at the following:

The middle line is B. Trouble is, at the start of the piece I've got a flat on the staff line for B's. But I don't want to play it flat. I want to play it natural. The answer is simple and as follows:

More Learn to Read Music

So how did you find that one? It's quite easy to grasp when you need to play the note sharp flat or natural. It takes practice to do it well though and that's why when you learn to read sheet music practice is a must

This is where you need to put in the time playing different pieces of music and improving your fingering skills and sight reading of music.

It shouldn't take you too much time to learn the above but do take your time if you feel you need to.

Ready to learn to read sheet music some more? Great! Click on the links below to take you to the next lessons in learn to read music.

Back To Lesson One Of How To Read Music - The Staff

Back To Lesson Two Of How To Read Sheet Music - Bars, Treble Clef and Time Signatures

Back To Lesson Three Of Learn To Read Music - Types Of Notes

Lesson Five Of Learn To Play Music - Types Of Rests

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