The notes you have learned to play so far in position 1 are called Naturals.
![](/files/tutorials/instrument/guitar/reading/pos1/guitar_accidentals_1.jpg)
The blank spaces in between these notes are called Accidentals.
![](/files/tutorials/instrument/guitar/reading/pos1/guitar_accidentals_1.jpg)
There are two kinds of accidentals called Sharps and Flats which look like this:
![](/files/tutorials/notation/sharp_flat.jpg)
![](/files/tutorials/notation/sharp_flat.jpg)
We think of accidentals as being natural notes that have been shifted up or down.
![](/files/tutorials/instrument/guitar/reading/pos1/guitar_accidentals_2.jpg)
If the accidental is formed by raising a note up, we call it a Sharp (#).
For example, if you raise F up by one fret, it becomes F#.
![](/files/tutorials/instrument/guitar/reading/pos1/guitar_accidentals_2.jpg)
If the accidental is formed by lowering the note down, we call it a Flat (b).
![](/files/tutorials/instrument/guitar/reading/pos1/guitar_accidentals_3.jpg)
For example, if you lower G by one fret, it becomes Gb.
![](/files/tutorials/instrument/guitar/reading/pos1/guitar_accidentals_3.jpg)
Please press the Exercise button below.