Interval, Melody, and Harmony
The lower or upper pitch of an interval may be sharp or flat, or both pitches of an interval may be out of tune.
If the lower pitch is sharp or the upper pitch is flat, the interval may be said to be flat given that as a whole it is too narrow; while if the lower pitch is flat or the upper pitch is sharp, the interval may be said to be sharp given that as a whole it is too wide. Intervals are conventionally measured from the bottom, as such in an interval that is too wide the upper pitch will thus be sharp. For example, the "flat fifth" of meantone temperament.
However, the interval itself may be in tune, in relation to itself (i.e. both notes of the interval are in tune in relation to each other), but flat or sharp as a whole and thus both notes of the interval will be out of tune.
A melody or harmony is flat or sharp if it is too high or low, respectively. A melody may be successively both sharp and flat. A harmony may be simultaneously and successively both sharp and flat.
Read more about this topic: Intonation (music)
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