Accidentals

ACCIDENTALS. The signs of chromatic alteration, employed in music to show that the notes to which they are applied have to be raised or lowered a semitone or a tone. They are five in number, the sharp (♯) (Fr. dièse, Ger. Kreuz) and double sharp (×) (Fr. double-dièse, Ger. Doppelkreuz), which being placed before a note raise it respectively a semitone or a tone; the flat (♭) (Fr. bémol, Ger. Be) and double-flat (♭♭) (Fr. double-bémol, Ger. Doppelbe), which cause the...