A double flat (♭♭) lowers a note by two semitones, two keys to the left.
The mirror of the double sharp, and there for the same reason: the letter name has to stay right for the key, even when the key on the piano has another name.
How to spot it
Two flat symbols side by side before a note head. Rare, and almost always in flat keys.
Find it in thirty seconds
Find one, play the key it means, then name it both ways. B♭♭ is the A key, but calling it A would break the spelling of the scale it belongs to.
Open any piece of sheet music on this site and do it now. Reading is a recognition skill, and recognition is built by finding things, not by reading about them.
Related Topics...
How to Read Sheet Music: Learn how to read sheet music using interactive lessons from Chordzy. Or browse our various reading music topics.
Music Notation Glossary: Every symbol on a page of piano music, explained in one sentence each, clefs, note values, rests, accidentals, dynamics and repeat marks.
Accidental: Accidental in piano music. An accidental is any sharp, flat or natural written in front of a note, changing its pitch for the rest of that measure.
Double Sharp: Double Sharp in piano music. A double sharp (𝄪, written like an x) raises a note by two semitones, two keys to the right.
Flat: Flat in piano music. A flat (♭) lowers a note by one semitone, the very next key to the left, black or white.
More in This Section
Dynamics: Dynamics in piano music. Dynamics are the letters under the staff telling you how loud to play: p is soft, f is loud, and mp and mf are the moderate versions o…
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C Flat Major Scale (Piano): The C-flat major scale is C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭, with seven flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭). Notes, piano fingering for both hands, key signature and chor…
