How long are sharps, flats and naturals effective?

Question:I remember hearing something about sharps, flats and naturals on sheet music only being effective until the end of that measure or the end of that scale (unless it's in the key signature). Can someone clear this up for me?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I remember hearing something about sharps, flats and naturals on sheet music only being effective until the end of that measure or the end of that scale (unless it's in the key signature). Can someone clear this up for me?

*Accidentals are effective for the whole measure.
*Accidentals only carry through if the changed note is tied across the barline to the next measure.

yeah only till the end of the measure, or if it specifies otherwise

Sometimes there will be a natural at the beggining of the next measure just to remind you.. which i find confusing and weird

Yes, if there is a sharp, flat, or natural in a measure, they only last for that measure. In the next measure, resume play as it is written originally.

Pretty sure you got it right. You can change it back by putting the sharp or flat sign back in front of the note the next time it is played. So when it goes to the next line it has the sign if front of it and therefore has changed back to the original.

Only to the end of a bar if they appear as accidentals. If the composer wants them again in the next bar they have to rewrite them

If a piece of music has no sharps or flats at the beginning it's in the key of C Major, if there is a sharp or flat it's called an accidental, because this time signature has no sharps or flats. If sheet music has two sharps, it's in the key of D and ALL F's and C's are sharped unless otherwise stated. I hope this makes it clear for you....all keys at the beginning tell you what is to be sharped or flatted....and this is continued until your told otherwise....sheet music explains everything to you, don't make changes until your told too !!!!!!!!!

If the sharps or flats are in the key signature at the beginning of the piece, they're effective for the entire duration of the piece -- unless they're temporarily canceled by a natural sign.
Naturals and accidentals (sharps or flats that occur in the middle of the piece) are effective until the end of the measure in which they occur.

Hope this helps.

Generally, yes

It's typical to put the sharp/flat back once it changes

so in G which has F# if I recall, if it calls for a G7 then it would show a natural symbol F and shortly there after it would show a #F to show the natural has ended.

that is correct. an accidental is effective only until the measure it is in is over. then it goes back to being what it is in the key signature.