Accidentals on the staff

A sharp or a flat is written in FRONT of the note, never above or below it. The note keeps its position: the sign only says which of the two neighbouring keys to press.

So F and F sharp sit on exactly the same line. Read the position first to get the letter, then look left for the sign.

A flat sign in front of the same note would mean F flat instead — the key below.

On the keyboard F♯ and G♭ are one key with no way to tell them apart. On the staff they are not: F♯ sits on the F line, G♭ in the G space above it. Read the position for the letter and the sign for the accidental, and say both.

position gives the letter · the sign gives the key

F sharp and F flat: one line, two different keys.

Practise this in the trainer — it opens with this lesson the first time the concept comes up.