Accidentals are signs which indicate temporary chromatic alteration.
A sharp raises the pitch of a note by a semitone and a flat lowers the pitch by a semitone.
Similarly, a double-sharp raises the pitch by 2 semitones and a double-flat lowers the pitch by 2 semitones.

Table of Contents

  1. Horizontal Spacing
  2. Vertical Alignment
  3. Kallisti Press Tips

HORIZONTAL SPACING

Spacing of accidentals may vary from score to score, depending on how many notes must fit into a measure, whether there are multiple accidentals, and whether they are alike or not alike.

  • Single accidentals before a single note: measure 1.5 Spaces or 27 EVPU’s from the left side of the notehead to the left side of the accidental.

Accid1A

 

  • Double accidentals: measure 1.5 spaces or 27 EVPU’s from the left side of the notehead to the left side of the accidental nearest to the note.

Accid1B

  • Multiple alike accidentals have the same spacing as key signatures.
  • Multiple unlike accidentals can be closer together but preferably not touching.

Accid1C

 

VERTICAL ALIGNMENT

Vertical alignment of accidentals is determined by:

1. Intervals between notes in the chord

2. How many notes are in the chord: 2, 3 or 4+

3. Whether there are suspended notes in the chord, and which side of the stem they are on.

In any note combination without suspended notes, if the interval between notes with accidentals is more than a 7th, the accidentals are directly above each other.

Accid7

Below are tables of rules of alignment for accidentals in the different possible note combinations.

2 Accidentals

Example Number of Notes in the Chord Interval Between Top & Bottom Notes Are There Suspended Notes? Resulting Placement of Accidentals
Accid2A 2 Less than a 7th No Highest accidental is closest to the notes; lower accidental is further left.
Accid2B 3 Less than a 7th No Same as above
Accid2C 3 Less than a 7th Yes, on the right side of the stem Accidental for the suspended note is closest to the notes
Accid2D Any number Any interval Yes, on the left side of the stem Accidental for the suspended note is further from the notes

3 Accidentals

Notes suspended on the right of the stem:

Example Interval Between Top and Bottom Notes Are There Suspended Notes? Resulting Placement of Accidentals
RightAccid3A 7th or Greater No Accidentals for the top and bottom notes are vertically aligned near the noteheads; other accidental is further left.
RightAccid3B Less than a 7th No Highest accidental is nearest the notes; lowest accidental further left; remaining accidental is farthest left.
RightAccid3C 7th or Greater
( *interval of notes above the suspended note)		 Yes, any note Accidental of suspended note is nearest the notehead; highest is further left; lowest is farthest left.
RightAccid3D 7th or Greater Yes, the top note Top and bottom accidentals are vertically aligned; remaining accidental is further left.
RightAccid3E Less than a 7th Yes, the top note Accidental of suspended note is nearest to the notes; lowest accidental is further left; remaining accidental is farthest left.
RightAccid3F Less than a 7th Yes, the middle note Accidental of suspended note is nearest to the notes; highest accidental is further left; lowest accidental is farthest left.

Notes suspended on the left of the stem:

Example Interval Between Top and Bottom Notes Location of Suspended Note Resulting Placement of Accidentals
LeftAccid3C Less than a 7th Bottom note Highest accidental is closest to notes; accidental of suspended note is farthest left; other accidental is in between.
LeftAccid3B More than a 7th Bottom note Same placement as above.
LeftAccid3A Less than a 7th Middle note Lowest accidental is closest to notes: accidental of suspended note is farthest left; othe accidental is in between.

4 or more Accidentals

(Examples are given to avoid wordy explanations)

Interval Between Top & Bottom Notes Are There Suspended Notes? Example of Accidental Placement
7th or Greater No Accid4A
7th or Greater Yes Accid4B
Less than a 7th Yes Accid4CUAccid4CD
2 intervals of a 7th or Greater No Accid4D

 

KALLISTI PRESS TIPS

In pre-20th century music, if you have a sharp following a flat in the same measure (or vice-versa) you have to cancel the first accidental before applying the second; that is, the second note will have a natural sign preceding the regular accidental. The same rule applies if you have a double-sharp followed by a single-sharp (or double flat to single flat). Since Finale’s accidental engine doesn’t provide this notation, it has to be entered as an articulation, which will position automatically with these settings:

  • natural D note 0, -56 -12 -56 12

Tips compliments of Andrew Stiller and Kallisti Press.