## Sharp

A sharp (♯) raises a note by one semitone — the very next key to the right, black or white.

A sharp in front of a note applies for the rest of that measure, and to that pitch only. A sharp in the key signature applies to every octave, for the whole piece, until told otherwise.


## How To Spot Sharp

A hash-like symbol immediately to the left of a note head, or in the group of symbols just after the clef.


## Find It In Thirty Seconds

Play any white key, then play the key immediately to its right. That is the sharp. Do it from E and notice the next key is white — F. Sharps are not always black keys.

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.