Sharps and flat question

[czechboy]

Hi,
I am completely beginner and I follow one czech study book where I can find sharps and flats in the line where there is no note at all... Therefore my question is if sharps and flats are valid only in the line where they are situated or they are valid for all same notes - for example for all "C" if it is in C3 line etc...
Thank you for help.
Oldrich Svec

[prometheus]

Yes. All C's in that bar. Until the end of the measure or until a natural sign.


But there is a difference between a 'key signature' and an 'accidental'. The key signature is permanent.

[phil13]

Or, to put it another way...

If the sharps and flats are at the beginning of the line, that is the key signature. Whatever sharps or flats are there, those affect the entire staff, through all the measures of the piece, and if for example, the key signature is sharp on the F4 line, then all Fs are sharp, not just F4.

An accidental occurs throughout the score whenever a sharp or flat is needed that is NOT in the key signature, and affects ONLY the line it is found on, for ONLY the measure it is in.

Hope that clarifies things a bit. 

Phil

[timothy42b]

Or, to put it another way...

If the sharps and flats are at the beginning of the line, that is the key signature. Whatever sharps or flats are there, those affect the entire staff, through all the measures of the piece, and if for example, the key signature is sharp on the F4 line, then all Fs are sharp, not just F4.

An accidental occurs throughout the score whenever a sharp or flat is needed that is NOT in the key signature, and affects ONLY the line it is found on, for ONLY the measure it is in.

Hope that clarifies things a bit. 

Phil

It would be the key signature at the beginning of the line, or anywhere else that the standard order of a key signature is used.  For example, if the piece started with no sharps or flats, key of C, and later on you found a measure with two sharps added in, it would depend on what they are.  If they are F# and C#, it is a new key signature and you are now in D from then on.  (if major)  If they are two other sharps then they are probably accidentals and only good for one measure.