Natural (music): Difference between revisions
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{{Listen|filename=Example of flats in music.ogg|title=Example|description=An A natural, then A{{music|♭}}.}} |
{{Listen|filename=Example of flats in music.ogg|title=Example|description=An A natural, then A{{music|♭}}.}} |
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In [[music theory]], a '''natural''' (♮) is an [[accidental (music)|accidental]] which cancels previous accidentals and represents the unaltered [[pitch (music)|pitch]] of a [[Musical note|note]].<ref>Benward & Saker (2003). ''Music in Theory and Practice, Vol 1'', p.6. McGraw-Hill, Seventh edition. "''Natural'' ({{music|natural}})—cancels any previous sharp or flat and returns to the natural, or unaltered, pitch."</ref> A note is natural when it is neither [[Flat (music)|flat]] ({{music|b}}) |
In [[music theory]], a '''natural''' (♮) is an [[accidental (music)|accidental]] which cancels previous accidentals and represents the unaltered [[pitch (music)|pitch]] of a [[Musical note|note]].<ref>Benward & Saker (2003). ''Music in Theory and Practice, Vol 1'', p.6. McGraw-Hill, Seventh edition. "''Natural'' ({{music|natural}})—cancels any previous sharp or flat and returns to the natural, or unaltered, pitch."</ref> |
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== Examples == |
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It can be used as [[key signature]] or [[accidental]]. An example of an A note with an accidental in place is shown below. <score> { |
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\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f |
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\relative c'' { |
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\time 4/4 a!1 |
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} } |
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</score> |
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A note is natural when it is neither lowered nor raised by [[Flat (music)|flat]] ({{music|b}}) or [[Sharp (music)|sharp]] ({{music|#}}) (or [[Double flat|double-flat]] {{music|bb}} or [[Double sharp|double-sharp]] {{music|x}}). '''Natural notes''' are the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G represented by the white keys on the [[Musical keyboard|keyboard]] of a [[piano]] or [[Organ (music)|organ]]. On a modern [[Pedal harp|concert harp]], the middle position of the seven pedals that alter the tuning of the strings gives the natural pitch for each string. |
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The scale of [[C major]] is sometimes regarded as the central, natural or basic [[major scale]] because all of its notes are natural notes, whereas every other major scale in the [[circle of fifths]] has at least one sharp or flat in it. |
The scale of [[C major]] is sometimes regarded as the central, natural or basic [[major scale]] because all of its notes are natural notes, whereas every other major scale in the [[circle of fifths]] has at least one sharp or flat in it. |
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The notes F{{music|b}}, C{{music|b}}, E{{music|#}}, B{{music|#}}, and most notes inflected by double-flats and double-sharps correspond in pitch with natural notes; however, they are not regarded as natural notes but rather as [[enharmonic]] equivalents of them and are just as much [[Diatonic and chromatic|chromatic]]ally inflected notes as most sharped and flatted notes that are represented by black notes on a keyboard. |
The notes F{{music|b}}, C{{music|b}}, E{{music|#}}, B{{music|#}}, and most notes inflected by double-flats and double-sharps correspond in pitch with natural notes; however, they are not regarded as natural notes but rather as [[enharmonic]] equivalents of them and are just as much [[Diatonic and chromatic|chromatic]]ally inflected notes as most sharped and flatted notes that are represented by black notes on a keyboard. |
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| ⚫ | The natural sign is derived from a square ''b'' used to denote B{{music|natural}} in medieval music (in contrast with the round ''b'' denoting B{{music|b}}, which became the flat symbol). The [[Unicode]] character <small>MUSIC NATURAL SIGN</small> '♮' (U+266E) should display as a natural sign. Its HTML entity is {{mono|&#9838;}}. |
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==Natural sign== |
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== Key signature == |
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<!--Include history of the natural sign--> |
<!--Include history of the natural sign--> |
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In [[musical notation]], a ''natural sign'' ({{Music|natural}}) is an [[accidental (music)|accidental]] sign used to cancel a [[Flat (music)|flat]] or [[Sharp (music)|sharp]] from either a preceding note or the [[key signature]]. |
In [[musical notation]], a ''natural sign'' ({{Music|natural}}) is an [[accidental (music)|accidental]] sign used to cancel a [[Flat (music)|flat]] or [[Sharp (music)|sharp]] from either a preceding note or the [[key signature]]. But, naturals are assumed (by default) in key signatures and mentioned only in key signature changes. |
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== [[accidental (music)|Accidental]] == |
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| ⚫ | |||
=== notation === |
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When used as an [[accidental (music)|accidental]], it is written to the left of the note head. |
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| ⚫ | |||
\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f |
\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f |
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\relative c'' { |
\relative c'' { |
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\time 4/4 a!1 |
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\clef treble \time 4/4 \hide Staff.TimeSignature b!1 |
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} } |
} } |
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</score> |
</score> |
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If a [[Bar (music)|bar]] contains a double sharp or double flat [[Accidental (music)|accidental]] and the [[composer]] wishes to denote the same note with only a single sharp or flat, a natural sign traditionally precedes the (single) sharp or flat symbol. Naturals are assumed (by default) in key signatures and mentioned only in key signature changes. |
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=== applying === |
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| ⚫ | The natural sign is derived from a square ''b'' used to denote B{{music|natural}} in medieval music (in contrast with the round ''b'' denoting B{{music|b}}, which became the flat symbol). The [[Unicode]] character <small>MUSIC NATURAL SIGN</small> '♮' (U+266E) should display as a natural sign. Its HTML entity is {{mono|&#9838;}}. |
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When used as an accidental, it is applied to the note after the natural sign in the same octave in the same bar. |
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==Double natural== |
==Double natural== |
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Revision as of 03:00, 26 May 2023
In music theory, a natural (♮) is an accidental which cancels previous accidentals and represents the unaltered pitch of a note.[1]
Examples
It can be used as key signature or accidental. An example of an A note with an accidental in place is shown below.
A note is natural when it is neither lowered nor raised by flat (♭) or sharp (♯) (or double-flat 
or double-sharp 
). Natural notes are the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G represented by the white keys on the keyboard of a piano or organ. On a modern concert harp, the middle position of the seven pedals that alter the tuning of the strings gives the natural pitch for each string.
The scale of C major is sometimes regarded as the central, natural or basic major scale because all of its notes are natural notes, whereas every other major scale in the circle of fifths has at least one sharp or flat in it.
The notes F♭, C♭, E♯, B♯, and most notes inflected by double-flats and double-sharps correspond in pitch with natural notes; however, they are not regarded as natural notes but rather as enharmonic equivalents of them and are just as much chromatically inflected notes as most sharped and flatted notes that are represented by black notes on a keyboard.
The natural sign is derived from a square b used to denote B♮ in medieval music (in contrast with the round b denoting B♭, which became the flat symbol). The Unicode character MUSIC NATURAL SIGN '♮' (U+266E) should display as a natural sign. Its HTML entity is ♮.
Key signature
In musical notation, a natural sign (♮) is an accidental sign used to cancel a flat or sharp from either a preceding note or the key signature. But, naturals are assumed (by default) in key signatures and mentioned only in key signature changes.
notation
When used as an accidental, it is written to the left of the note head.
applying
When used as an accidental, it is applied to the note after the natural sign in the same octave in the same bar.
Double natural
In a case where one needs to cancel both flats or sharps of a double flat or double sharp, it is acceptable to write a single natural. In older practice, two naturals (♮♮)[2] can be written.[3]
Similarly, to cancel one flat or sharp from a double flat or double sharp, the traditional convention is to use (♮♭)[4] or (♮♯)[5] respectively, but the naturals are generally omitted in modern notational practice.
Etc.
Theoretically, the same principle could be applied when canceling the symbol of a triple sign[6] or beyond.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Benward & Saker (2003). Music in Theory and Practice, Vol 1, p.6. McGraw-Hill, Seventh edition. "Natural (♮)—cancels any previous sharp or flat and returns to the natural, or unaltered, pitch."
- ^ a 'double natural'
- ^ "OnMusic Dictionary - Term". www.music.vt.edu. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- ^ a 'natural flat'
- ^ a 'natural sharp'
- ^ (Triple flat/Triple sharp)
- ^ However, this principle has been used only in Max Rager's Clarinet Sonata No. 2 and this one. And even that, ♮♯ was used for the former instead of ♮×/♮♭♭.
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