Sharps

/ʃɑrps/ noun

Definition

In music, notes raised one semitone higher than their natural pitch, indicated by the # symbol; also refers to sharp objects or medical needles.

Etymology

From Middle English 'sharp' meaning having a keen edge or point, later adopted in musical terminology in the 17th century to describe sounds pitched higher; evolved from Old English 'scearp'.

Kelly Says

In music, a 'sharp' literally raises a note by the smallest step possible in Western music—one semitone—and the term beautifully connects to the original meaning of sharp (keen, cutting) because it cuts the note higher in pitch.

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