Notation & Symbols

Natural

Written as ♮

Definition

A natural (♮) is a sign that cancels a sharp or flat, returning a note to its plain letter pitch. It can cancel an earlier accidental in the same bar or a sharp or flat from the key signature.

A natural sign cancels a sharp or a flat. A note with a natural is played at its plain letter pitch, which on the piano is one of the white keys C, D, E, F, G, A and B. The sign, ♮, looks like a small box with a short stem rising from its left side and another falling from its right side.

Two treble-clef examples in 4/4. The first has a key signature of one sharp: bar 1 has D, E, F with a natural sign, E; bar 2 has D, F without a sign, and a half note G. The second has no key signature: C, C with a sharp, D, and C with a natural sign. — Left, in G major (one sharp): the natural turns F-sharp into F in bar 1. In bar 2 the key signature applies again, so the F is F-sharp with no sign. Right: C, C-sharp, D, then C again, which needs a natural to cancel the sharp from earlier in the same bar.

Its two jobs

Canceling the key signature. In G major every F is F♯, because of the key signature. A natural before an F turns it into F natural for the rest of that measure.
Canceling an earlier accidental. If a bar has a C♯ and the composer then wants a plain C in the same bar, the second C needs a natural, because the sharp would otherwise still be in force.

Like every accidental, a natural lasts only until the next bar line. After that, the key signature applies again.

Naturals at key changes

When a piece changes to a key with fewer sharps or flats, naturals often appear just before the new key signature to cancel the old one. Practice varies: some editions cancel every old sharp or flat, others only the ones that disappear. A change to C major or A minor, which have no sharps or flats, is usually shown with naturals, since otherwise there would be nothing to see.

Natural notes and white keys

On the piano, the natural notes are the white keys. The reverse is not quite true: E♯ and B♯ are also played on white keys (F and C), and so are F♭ and C♭ (E and B). "Natural" describes a note's name, a letter with no sharp or flat, not the color of the key.

Practice with The natural: back to plain and Accidentals on the staff.

Common questions

Is a natural note always a white key?

On the piano, yes: the natural notes C, D, E, F, G, A and B are the white keys. Some white keys also have sharp or flat names, such as E-sharp for F.

How long does a natural sign last?

Until the end of the measure, like any accidental. After the bar line, the key signature applies again.