natural in music meaning | TheMusicDictionary

Meaning of "Natural" in Music

In music theory, the term "natural" refers to an accidental that cancels previous key signatures or accidentals and represents the unaltered pitch of a note ). It is used to indicate that a note should be played without any alteration, either sharp or flat.

Natural notes are the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G represented by the white keys on a piano or organ ). They are the basic, unaltered pitches of the musical scale. When a note is natural, it means that it is neither lowered nor raised by other key signatures or accidentals ).

The natural sign (♮) is used to indicate that a note should be played as a natural note, canceling any previous accidentals that may have altered its pitch. For example, if a previous note in a piece of music is B♭, and a natural symbol precedes the new note, you are to play B.

The natural sign is also used in key signatures to indicate that all the notes on a particular line or space of the staff should be played as natural notes, without any sharps or flats.

A symbol placed by a note signifying that the note should be played unaltered as opposed to the sharp or flat of the note. This symbol is usually seen only where an accidental such as a sharp or flat is expected, thus assuring the performer that the note should be played without such an accidental.

The natural symbol alters the pitch of the note to which it is attached as well as any subsequent occurrence of the same note (identical line or space) in the same measure. Notes with the same pitch name, but a higher or lower octave, are not affected. Any note with a natural that also has a tie across a barline carries the natural to the note on the other side of the barline. Notes in the new measure that are not tied to altered notes from the previous measure revert to their original pitch and are performed using the current key signature.

See more about accidentals in the Appendix.