Chords

[TEE]

What makes a chord a natural? I hear people say a song is in B natural but I have never heard why it is natural.

[Carleton Page]

Sort of a misnomer. Same thing as just plain old B. As opposed to B flat. I coud speculate that it comes from a time when B flat was much more common, but I have absolutley no proof to back that up. #It sure does sound cooler though tos say B natural! Oh and I believe Bill said it that way. So that is probabably as good an explanation as as any other.

[Jim Broyles]

Yeah. Probably means B major, just said a different way.

[jefflester]

There's a joke or saying in there somewhere, I just can't remember it.

Just be natural. :-)

[Doug Hoople]

When referring to chords, "B natural" would usually only be as a correction. For example, when the lead sheet calls for a B, and I fire off a Bb by accident, they'll glare at me and say "That chord's a B natural."

I've never heard "B natural" used in connection with a song (as in, "That song's in B natural."). To mark a key change, though... if a song starts in Bb and has a cheesy half-step modulation up to B, someone might clue me in by telling me "The song's in B natural from here."

[allenhopkins]

"Natural" is just the term for neither sharped nor flatted -- the white keys of the piano, for example.

It's a useful term for when you have a note that's not in the "normal" scale of the key in which you're playing. Say you're playing in D (you probably are, if you're at a Celtic seisun), and you are going to play a D7 chord (I'm referring to what we usually call "seventh," which of course is the "minor seventh" rather than the "major seventh," but that's way too much theory for now). The "ti" note in the D major scale is, of course, C#, but to make the D7 you play a C "natural" note. If you see this written out in sheet music you'll see a "natural" sign (which I'd illustrate 'cept my keyboard doesn't have one) next to that C note.

So the term "natural" applies to individual notes, as well as to chords and key signatures. Again, white keys of the piano...

[Tom C]

Quote:I've never heard "B natural" used in connection with a song

On Mandolin Extravaganza Ronnie McCoury does a tune call B Natural

[Jim Broyles]

Natural sign:

[TxRhino]

Possible an "Old Timey" term. On the album "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" featuring "The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band" and many legends of Blue Grass, Mama Mabelle Carter can be heard telling Doc Watson the next song will be in "A-Natural".



Keep the Faith

Michael

[Doug Hoople]

Mama Maybelle Carter can be heard telling Doc Watson the next song will be in "A-Natural".

Funny, that it's heard in settings where the likelihood of playing in, for example, Ab or A#, is pretty slim to start with.

You learn something new every day. It's one of the reasons I come to the Cafe!

[Red Henry]

Quote:I've never heard "B natural" used in connection with a song

On Mandolin Extravaganza Ronnie McCoury does a tune call B Natural

Bill Monroe used to use the term "B-natural" fairly often. But it was partly because he did some numbers in B-flat, and it was a good idea for him to let the band to know what key he was in before he actually kicked off the song (not that he never did that, but then it was just to give the band a hard time!).

Red

[Geoff B]

... if a song starts in Bb and has a cheesy half-step modulation up to B, someone might clue me in by telling me "The song's in B natural from here."

This is funny! "cheesy half-step modulation." i will have to use that at the next band practice... 'hey guys, let's try a cheesy half-step modulation for the last chorus."

there are, of course, not cheesy half-steps, but that gets into matter of taste.

Everyone's comments so far have been very sharp! (couldn't help myself, sorry)

[mandroid]

Notable occasions.. on keys spelled in Flats, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, etc,
the natural sign indicates the B is a half step higher , often just for a measure, then it reverts back to its part of the scale in the key.

[mandroid]

Of course since B Major is B, C#, D#,E ,F#,G#, A# it's not very natural either ...

[timv]

a cheesy half-step modulation up to B

Also sometimes known as the "Truck Driver's Gear Change" ...

On Mandolin Extravaganza Ronnie McCoury does a tune call B Natural

The Rutles did song called "Let's Be Natural." Fittingly (?) in the key of D.

Of course since B Major is B, C#, D#,E ,F#,G#, A# it's not very natural either ...

Wasn't that someone's joke? "There ain't nothing natural about B natural." It seems like I've heard that somewhere.

[bobby bill]

[QUOTE]Notable occasions.. on keys spelled in Flats, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, etc,
the natural sign indicates the B is a half step higher , often just for a measure or 2 , then it reverts back to its part of the scale in the key.

Strictly speaking, an accidental, such as a natural sign indicating the B is a half step higher, is only valid for the measure in which it appears. It expires at the bar . . . (straight line for more jokes).

[Doug Hoople]

a cheesy half-step modulation up to B

Also sometimes known as the "Truck Driver's Gear Change" ...

[/QUOTE]
LOL. That's the second thing I've learned today. Some days are just bonus days!