Music

Music 101: What Are Flat Notes? Learn About Flat Notes in Music With Examples

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Sep 2, 2022 • 3 min read

Western music contains 12 pitches, which are repeated over a series of octaves. Seven of these pitches are considered “natural.” These are the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. The remaining five pitches are classified as either “sharp notes” or “flat notes.” Whether a note is sharp or flat depends on the key you are playing in.