Flat

Figure 1. A fa Bemol
Play the natural and then the bemol. (?·i)

The flat (♭), in the field of musical notation, is a sign known as an alteration that affects the frequency of a note by reducing it by one semitone. It is represented in sheet music by this symbol (♭).

Etymology

Figure 2. "B molle" and "B durum".

The term «flat», like the «becuadro», comes from the ancient music tradition of using the letter «b» to denote the note Si. This note was the only one in Gregorian chant that could be altered, that is, the only one whose intonation was variable since it could be intoned "low" or "high". This difference was reflected in the scores in primitive plainchant notation (see Figure 2).

• To represent the "low" intonation the letter "b" was written with the rounded belly ("b molle"which derives “bemol”), which later resulted in the symbol of the bemol and the German name “B” for the note Yes (♫).
• To represent the "high" intonation the letter "b" was written with the square belly («b durum»Hence the denomination "square" which evolved into the symbol of the bench and the sustain.

As for the meaning of the adjective “molle” there are two hypotheses, each of which probably has its share of truth:

• The different graph of the "b" in the old scores we have seen, with rounded shape ("b molle") when it was a Yes, bemol. and with square shape («b durum»If not.
• The term "molle" was associated with a more serious sound, or with that sound which, if performed by a string instrument, requires that the rope itself be less tense, softer or molle..

Many languages have maintained this etymology in the term to designate this musical alteration. Thus, for example, it is called “Bemol” in Spanish, Galician, Basque, Portuguese and Polish; “bémol” in French, “bemolle” in Italian, “bemoll” in Catalan. The exception is the English language which calls it "flat" which means "flat, flat".

Graphic representation

Flat is represented by an n#34;by#34; stylized lowercase. In the score it can appear in the key signature or as an accidental alteration.

Figure 3. Shots in armor and accidental.

• When they are own alterations they are part of the key armor and are drawn in the staff between the key and the symbol of the compass. These bemoles always appear in a certain order, which is also the reverse of the order of the held. In the Latin system of notation: Yes ending - My ending - The ending - Re ending - Sol awesome - Do awesome - Fa

In alphabetical notation or anglossaxone is the same order, but in using different letters the combination has led to a mnemotechnic rule by forming the following acrostics:

B - E ending - A ending - D ending - G ending - C ending - Battle Ends And Down Goes CMake them Father.

F - C index - G destined - D destined Father Cmake them Goes Down And Ends Battle.

• When it is an accidental alteration it is written at any point of the score to the left of the head of the note to which it affects, in the same way as the sustained or the bench (see Figure 3).

In computing

In Unicode this symbol is found at U+266D; since it is not on most keyboards, a lowercase b is used instead.

Symbols for web pages use the string ♭ which appears as ♭.

In LaTeX, the symbol ♫ ♫ {displaystyle flat } is obtained with the command flatin a mathematical environment (… in Wikipedia or $ … $ in LATEX{displaystyle mathbf {L!!^{{{}_{scriptstyle A}!!!!!;T!_{displaystyle E}!X} }).

Wikipedia recommends using the {{music}} template to generate a flat by typing {{music|b}}, which results in: ♭, since Unicode does not work on all computers.

Uses and effects

As own alteration

A flat in the key signature will alter all notes of the same name that are on the same line or space of the staff and also to the same notes that are in other octaves higher or lower. This effect will last until the next key change or until the end of the music piece.

If a bead appears to the left of a note, the note will no longer be altered by the flat key signature. Nor will all the notes of the same name that are to the right of the bead be altered by that flat, regardless of what octave they are in. But this cancellation of the key signature flat altering effect will only take effect until the next bar line to the right of the beacon.

If a sharp appears to the left of a note before reaching the barline to the right, it can affect that note (and other notes of the same name, no matter what octave they are in) for the rest of the compass

As accidental alteration

The accidental flat alters the musical note before the one it is written, as well as all the notes of the same name and pitch that are in the measure where it is. That is, it affects all equal sounds to the right of the flat up to the next barline. Accidentals do not affect the same note in a different octave, unless indicated in the key signature.

If that same note should be flatted again beyond the barline, that alteration should be repeated in each new measure that is necessary. These types of accidentals do not repeat for repeated notes unless one or more different pitches or rests are involved. They are also not repeated in tied notes unless the slur is moved from line to line or page to page.

Harmony

By virtue of the equal temperament of twelve tones, the distance between two consecutive notes can be one semitone and the alteration of a note by means of a flat produces an inharmony or equivalence with respect to the heights of this note and a lower note. Thus, the note C flat is enharmonically equivalent to the B flat and the G flat is the same as F sharp . In any other tuning system such enharmonic equivalences usually do not exist.

To allow for extended just temperament, composer Ben Johnston uses the sharp as an accidental to indicate that the note is raised from 70.6 cents (ratio 25:24) or the flat to indicate that a note is lowered from 70, 6 cents.

Related Accidentals

Double flats

Graphical representation of a double bemol

The double bemol () is another sign that serves to alter the height of musical notes in two semitones, that is, an entire tone. It can be used in scores that have many alterations.

The Unicode character 𝄫 (U+1D12B) represents the double-flat sign.

Triple flats

Graphical representation of a triple bemol

The triple flat (bbb) is a very rare type of accidental and is only used in modern classical music. This accidental reduces the height of the note by three semitones, that is, one and a half tones. Its graphic representation is made by adding a b plus to the double-flat sign.

Microtonal flats

Within the diversity of contemporary music we can find pieces that use divisions of sounds in quarter tones, thus giving rise to three other alteration options:

• The semi-bemol or half bemol () that only decreases the height of the semi-tone average note, that is, 50 cents. It is represented by a bemol sign invested horizontally.
• The Bemol and a half or sesqui bemol () that lowers the height of the note a semitone and a half, that is, 150 cents. It is represented by a half bemol sign followed by a normal bemol.

1/4 tone between Do and Re 50 cents. Play (?·i) 1/2 tone between Do and Re ♫100 cents. Play (?·i) 3/4 tone between Do and Re 150 cents. Play (?·i)