Flats and Sharps

what flats and sharps are. The black keys on the piano may correspond to a sharp or a flat. The presence of sharp before a note means that you have to raise a note by one half step while a flat requires you to go down by one half step. A half step is the very next key, for example raising the middle C by one half step will land you on the black key beside it. Raising it to another half step is the note D. Moving a half step lower middle C will take you to B. So half step basically means moving on the next key. There are usually black keys between white keys except between E and F, also in B and C. The natural symbol represents the original key, or note. This is usually seen after the note is raised in a sharp or lowered in a flat and the music sheet requires the key to be returned in its neutral state.