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a symbol placed before a note to indicate that it should be played higher or lower than it is written in the key signature
What is an "accidental"?
An accidental is a musical symbol used to temporarily alter the pitch of a note. It appears before a note and includes sharp (♯), flat (♭), natural (♮), double sharp (♯♯), and double flat (♭♭). A sharp raises the note by one half step, a flat lowers it by one half step, and a natural cancels any previous sharps or flats. A double sharp raises the note by two half steps, while a double flat lowers it by two half steps. Accidentals affect only the note they precede and remain in effect for the measure in which they appear.
occurring unexpectedly or without prior planning
not essential to the main subject or purpose
