<< Key Signatures | Seeing Double >>
A natural is used to remove the effect of an active flat or sharp. Think of a natural as acting like an eraser – it removes the impact that a flat or sharp would otherwise have on a note.
A natural can be used to remove an accidental from the remaining part of a measure, or it can remove the impact of a key signature. Like other accidentals (flat or sharp), when a natural appears in a measure, it is valid until the end of the measure (or until another accidental overrides it).
Natural Erasing Accidentals in a Measure
In the following example, a natural is used to remove the Bb that occurred earlier in the measure.
In the following example, a natural is used to remove the A# that occurred earlier in the measure.
Natural Erasing Impact of Key Signature
A natural can also be used to remove the impact of a key signature (flat or sharp.
In this example, the Bb from the key signature is erased, or overridden, by the natural (the first B is still Bb; only the second one is B natural).
In this example, the C# in the key signature is erased, or overridden, by the natural.
