Notation

Sharp

The sharp ♯ is the raising sign: it raises a note by a semitone, so C becomes C♯ and F becomes F♯. As a sign in the key signature at the start of the line it fixes a sharp key.

Effect: raises by a semitone
Name: letter + ♯ (C → C♯)
Counterpart: flat ♭ (lowers)
Cancelling: natural sign ♮

How long a sharp applies

How long a sharp applies depends on where it is placed: as an accidental in the bar, or in the key signature at the start of the line, where it fixes the key. The difference is explained on the page Accidental. There is also the double sharp (raised by two semitones) and, beyond standard notation, quarter-tone signs. All are shown in the symbol library Notation symbols.

Sharp keys

The sharps always appear in the key signature in the same order: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯. The saying “Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle” helps you remember the order. Each following sharp lies a perfect fifth from the one before: the circle of fifths seen from another side.

Sharps	Major key	New sharp	Relative minor
1	G major	F♯	E minor
2	D major	C♯	B minor
3	A major	G♯	F♯ minor
4	E major	D♯	C♯ minor
5	B major	A♯	G♯ minor
6	F♯ major	E♯	D♯ minor

The table shows it: the new sharp always lies a semitone below the tonic; with one sharp (F♯) that is G major. How to read the key from it, including the rule for the flat keys, is on the page Key.

Practice: On the first levels of Key Signatures you stay with few sharps or flats in the key signature and plain major keys; later all seven sharp and flat keys are added. In Name the Note you practise how altered notes are written.

Common mistakes

Mixing up sharp and flat: The sharp raises, the flat lowers.
Equating C♯ and D♭: They sound the same but are written differently depending on the key.

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Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026

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Sharp

How long a sharp applies

Sharp keys

Common mistakes

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Key Signatures

Circle of fifths

Notation symbols

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