19: Accidentals On Purpose
Example 19.3 From left to right: D sharp, G sharp, C sharp, F sharp, A sharp, C sharp, F sharp.
Naturals
Naturals are a little different from sharps and flats. A natural sign
cancels the effect of a sharp or flat, and is used for this purpose only.
Any note which isn’t affected by an accidental is already a natural note.
In fact, all the notes you’ve seen before this chapter have been natural
notes. When there aren’t any sharped or flatted notes to be changed, the
natural sign isn’t used.
So a natural can either raise or lower the pitch of a note. If a natural
cancels a flat, it raises the pitch of a note by a half step. If a natural
cancels a sharp, it lowers the pitch of the note by a half step. And you’ve
already guessed that a natural can be used with any note.Example 19.4 From left to right: B natural, D natural, E natural, D natural, A natural, C natural.
More Accidental Rules
When an accidental is used at the beginning of a measure, it’s effect lasts
for the entire measure. For example, if at the beginning of a measure we
have a B flat, and then at the end of the measure there is another B, it is
also a B flat unless there is a natural sign in front of it.
An accidental can’t have an effect over a bar line.