The Sharp Sign
This is a sharp sign.
A sharp sign is used to indicate that a note is played a semitone higher than its original pitch. In this case, the note F# is one semitone higher than F. Like flat signs, a sharp sign is written immediately before the note to which it applies.
The Note F Sharp
Here is an example which makes use of the note F# .
The Natural Sign
This is a natural sign.
A natural sign cancels the effect of a sharp or flat for the rest of that bar, or until another sharp or flat sign occurs within that bar. Notice the alternation between F natural (F@)and F# in example 8.1.
Now try this 12 bar Blues solo which makes use of sharp, flat and natural signs. It also uses the note Bb in the middle register. The fingering is the same as the Bb you already know, but the octave key is added. There are no breath marks here, but the best place to breathe is at the end of each phrase – at the end of the tied notes.
The Dotted Quarter Note
A dot written after a quarter note indicates that the note is held for one and a half beats.
A dotted quarter note is often followed by an eighth note.
This four bar melody is made up almost entirely of dotted quarter notes and eighth notes.
The rhythm figure shown here is often used for horn section riffs.
