Altered Pitches: Flats and Naturals

A flat () lowers a note one half step. This means that the flatted note is found one key to the left of the original note on the piano. Look at the example below. On the staff there is a flat sign written in front of the E. On the piano, this note would be played as the black key to the left of E.

Listen to this example of an E being played, followed by an E (flat). The E sounds lower than the E.

The natural () symbol is used to cancel a sharp or flat that was previously placed on that particular pitch.