LESSON NINE

Flat Signs

This is a flat sign. A flat sign lowers the pitch of the note to which it applies by an interval known as one semitone or one half step. Thus the note Bb is one semitone lower than B.

Since the difference in pitch between the notes A and B is one whole tone (two semitones or one whole step), Bb is also one semitone higher than A.

The Note B Flat (Bb)

When a flat note is written on the staff, the flat sign is placed before the note.

The note Bb uses the same fingering as the note F. Practice alternating between these two notes until you can easily play either one.

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The flat sign affects all B notes within the bar in which it appears. For example, in bars 2 and 4 the b sign appears before the first B in each bar. The flat also applies to all other B notes within that particular bar. The effect of a flat sign is canceled by a bar line, meaning that a new flat sign is needed to indicate a new Bb note in the following bar.

Key Signatures

Instead of writing a flat sign before every Bb note, it is easier to write just one flat sign after the treble clef. This means that all B notes on the staff are played as Bb, even though there is no flat sign placed before the note. This is called a key signature. One flat indicates the key of F major.

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Play all B notes as Bb as indicated by the key signature.

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Ding Dong Merrily on High

This traditional Christmas song is written here in the key of F major as indicated by the key signature.

The Note D (On The Fourth Line)

This D note is written on the fourth line of the staff.

This new D note uses the same fingering as F and Bb, which means that once again the higher note is produced by using more pressure with the lips. Here is an example which makes use of all three notes with this fingering.

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Ding Dong Merrily on High