Flat Symbol ♭

In common Western notation it lowers a written pitch by one semitone unless the key signature or notation context specifies otherwise. For Flat Symbol, staff position, duration, chord context, and adjacent marks supply information that the isolated sign ♭ does not carry by itself. People usually need Flat Symbol in contexts such as Sheet-music text, Chord names, Music theory notes, and Pitch annotations. For the flat symbol entry, these examples show why ♭ must be read together with nearby text rather than as a free-standing claim. Flat Symbol rule 1: Place ♭ immediately after the note letter in chord names. Flat Symbol rule 2: Use a music font or notation system for scored music. Flat Symbol rule 3: Keep ♭ distinct from lowercase b. Flat Symbol rule 4: Name the altered pitch in accessible text when needed. Flat Symbol mistake check 1: avoid typing b instead of ♭ in formal music notation. Flat Symbol mistake check 2: avoid placing ♭ before the note name in chord text. Flat Symbol mistake check 3: avoid confusing flat ♭ with natural ♮. Flat Symbol mistake check 4: avoid using one flat where a double flat 𝄫 is required. Nearby forms recorded for Flat Symbol are ♯ — Sharp sign (Raises a written pitch); ♮ — Natural sign (Cancels a sharp or flat); 𝄫 — Double flat (Lowers a pitch by two semitones). This page covers the music flat sign ♭, not the lowercase letter b, the double-flat sign 𝄫, or a map symbol for a flat area.