Grade 4: Double Sharps and Double Flats
Look at the diagram below. If you add a sharp to the G below, you get G#.
If you add a second sharp to G#, you get A. You can also add a double sharp to G, to get G double-sharp. G double-sharp is A. We say the enharmonic note for G double-sharp is A.
What are the enharmonic notes for the following?
The same principle applies to flats. A flat lowers a note by a semitone. A double-flat lowers a note by a tone.
What are the enharmonic notes for the following?
If you want to cancel out a double sharp or flat completely, you use a natural. If you want to change a note that has a double sharp or flat to one with just a single sharp or flat, you write the single sharp or flat in front of the note the next time it occurs in the bar.
Remember that alterations are only valid for the duration of the bar.
