flat
In music, a flat is a symbol (♭) that tells a musician to play a note a half-step lower than usual. It also describes a sound or voice that is slightly lower than the correct musical pitch.
Examples
3 of 5The singer sounds a little flat on the high notes.
The singer sounds a little lower than the correct pitch on the high notes.
The conductor requested the violins to play the E-flat more clearly.
The conductor asked the violins to play the E-flat note more clearly.
I think your guitar string is flat; you should tighten it.
I think your guitar string is sounding too low; you should tighten it.
Synonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'flat' tire on a car—the car sits 'lower' to the ground, just like a 'flat' note is lower in pitch.
Quick Quiz
If a singer is performing below the correct pitch, we say they are singing ___.
Correct!
The correct answer is: flat
Examples
The singer sounds a little flat on the high notes.
everydayThe singer sounds a little lower than the correct pitch on the high notes.
The conductor requested the violins to play the E-flat more clearly.
formalThe conductor asked the violins to play the E-flat note more clearly.
I think your guitar string is flat; you should tighten it.
informalI think your guitar string is sounding too low; you should tighten it.
The presence of a flat in the key signature changes the scale's mood.
academicHaving a flat in the key signature changes the feeling of the musical scale.
Please ensure the background jingle doesn't sound flat in the final edit.
businessPlease make sure the short song in the back doesn't sound off-pitch in the final version.
Synonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
flat note
a musical note that is lower than it should be
fall flat
to fail to produce the intended effect (idiom derived from music)
flat major
a major scale that starts on a flat note
Often Confused With
A flat makes a note lower, while a sharp makes a note higher.
A flat changes a note's pitch, whereas a natural returns a note to its original pitch.
Usage Notes
Use 'flat' when a musician is playing below the target pitch. In writing, use the symbol ♭ after the letter, like 'Bb', though it is often written out as 'B-flat'.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 'flat' with 'low volume'. In music, 'flat' refers to the pitch (frequency), not how loud the sound is.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'flat' tire on a car—the car sits 'lower' to the ground, just like a 'flat' note is lower in pitch.
Word Origin
From the Old French word 'plat', meaning level or low.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In the UK, 'flat' commonly means an apartment, but in the context of music worldwide, it always refers to pitch.
Quick Quiz
If a singer is performing below the correct pitch, we say they are singing ___.
Correct!
The correct answer is: flat
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
A melody is a sequence of musical notes that are pleasant to...
scaleA musical scale is a set of musical notes ordered by pitch,...
sharpIn music, a sharp is a symbol (#) that tells a player to pla...
pitchA pitch is an area of ground marked out for playing a sports...
accidentalDescribes something that happens by chance, unintentionally,...
More music words
melody
A1A melody is a sequence of musical notes that are pleasant to listen to and form a main tune. It is the part of a song that people usually hum or sing along with.
note
A1In music, a note is a single sound with a specific pitch and length. It also refers to the written symbol on a page that tells a musician which sound to play.
scale
A1A musical scale is a set of musical notes ordered by pitch, going up or down in a specific pattern. It acts like a ladder of sounds that musicians use to create melodies and harmonies.
sharp
A1In music, a sharp is a symbol (#) that tells a player to play a note one half-step higher. It also refers to the specific note that has been raised.
beat
A1The regular pulse or rhythm in a piece of music that you can clap your hands or tap your feet to. It is the basic unit of time in a song that helps musicians stay together.
bar
A1In music, a bar is a short section of music that contains a specific number of beats. It is shown on paper by vertical lines that divide the musical staff into equal parts.
time signature
A1A time signature is a set of two numbers at the beginning of a piece of music. It tells the musician how many beats are in each measure and which note value represents one beat.
instrument
A1An object that is played to make musical sounds, such as a piano, guitar, or drum. It can also be a tool used by scientists or doctors to do very exact work.
violin
A1A musical instrument with four strings that is held under the chin and played with a bow. It is known for its high-pitched, expressive sound and is used in many types of music, especially classical and folk.
viola
A1A viola is a musical instrument with four strings that is held under the chin and played with a bow. It looks like a violin but is slightly larger and has a deeper, lower sound.
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