Definition: A sharp is an accidental that indicates a slight increase in pitch. It’s seen as a noun, a verb, and an adjective:
- (n) A sharp is a symbol (♯, also ‘#’ in type) placed in front of a note, increasing its pitch by a half step. D# is a half step higher in pitch than D; and D is a half step higher than C#.
- (v) To “sharpen” a note means to raise its pitch by a half step (see double-sharp).
- (adj.) The word sharp can describe a pitch that is slightly higher than desired (or “off-pitch”), even if the pitch does not match an actual sharp note. For example, when tuning a piano, a particular string might sound “a bit sharp,” and would need to be “flattened” to match the correct pitch.
Also Known As:
- diesis (It)
- dièse (Fr)
- Kreuz (Ger)
