* Lowers the pitch of a note by a half step.
* Is indicated by the symbol ♭ placed before the note.
* Is used to cancel out a previous sharp or double sharp.
Sharp:
* Raises the pitch of a note by a half step.
* Is indicated by the symbol # placed before the note.
* Is used to cancel out a previous flat or double flat.
In addition to the above, there are also double flats and double sharps, which lower or raise the pitch of a note by a whole step. Double flats are indicated by the symbol ♭♭, while double sharps are indicated by the symbol ##.
Here is a table summarizing the differences between flat natural, sharp, double flat, and double sharp:
| Symbol | Name | Effect on pitch |
|---|---|---|
| ♭ | Flat natural | Lowers the pitch of a note by a half step |
| # | Sharp | Raises the pitch of a note by a half step |
| ♭♭ | Double flat | Lowers the pitch of a note by a whole step |
| ## | Double sharp | Raises the pitch of a note by a whole step |
I hope this helps!