Definition: A flat is an accidental that indicates a slight decrease in pitch. It’s seen as a noun, a verb, and an adjective:
- (n) A flat is a symbol (b) placed next to a note, decreasing its pitch by a half step; Db is a half step lower in pitch than D.
- (v) To “flatten” a note means to lower its pitch by a half step.
- (adj.) The word flat can describe a pitch that is slightly lower than desired, even if the pitch does not match an existing flat note. For example, when tuning a piano, a particular string might sound “slightly flat,” and would have to be raised by only a quarter step (or an eighth step) to be in-tune.
See sharp.
