[ << Common notation ]	[Top][Contents][Index]	[ Fundamental concepts >> ]
[ < Pitches and key signatures ]	[ Up : Pitches and key signatures ]	[ Key signatures > ]

---

Pitch alterations

Music Glossary: sharp, flat, double sharp, double flat, accidental.

Note names in LilyPond identify pitches. For example, ‘c’ always means C-natural, regardless of the key signature.

In many languages, a note name consists of a base name referring to the diatonic steps of the C major/a minor scale (for example, ‘d’) and a suffix, which indicates alteration of this base pitch. The default input language for note names is ‘nederlands’ (Dutch). A sharp pitch is made by adding ‘is’ to the name, and a flat pitch by adding ‘es’. As you might expect, a double sharp or double flat is made by adding ‘isis’ or ‘eses’. This syntax is derived from note naming conventions in Nordic and Germanic languages, like German and Dutch. To use other naming schemes for note names, see Note names in other languages.

\relative { cis''4 ees fisis, aeses }