Reasoning for redundant “natural” (but not courtesy accidental)












15















I understand why you'd add courtesy accidentals, but I was browsing through some old sheet music lying around here and came across this, and can't seem to come up with a reason for this natural in bar 2:



enter image description here



What am i missing here? The signature's G and only the F's should be raised, so why naturalise the G's? I don't have any training, so maybe this is simply something I've missed in my self-study.



(It's from "Alec Eiffel" by Pixies BTW)



==edit==



enter image description here










share|improve this question




















  • 1





    could you please poste a few more bars and the staff of F clef too? I assume there could be a G# in the left hand if this is somewhat of a blues style ...

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 25 at 11:52






  • 1





    Hehe, it doesn't really provide any more info, except that the chord's E there. But I uploaded a picture, so you can see for yourself.

    – Creynders
    Jan 25 at 11:59






  • 1





    And the bass cleff is not provided separately btw. This is literally it

    – Creynders
    Jan 25 at 12:02






  • 1





    I would call this a courtesy accidental. The difference between "redundant" and "courtesy" is nil IMHO. Not really worth worrying about.

    – Carl Witthoft
    Jan 25 at 15:20






  • 1





    @CarlWitthoft - with you all the way. Basically can't see the point in that natural (or other superfluous accidentals) anyway. There's always enough stuff to read without overcrowding, I'm sure you'll agree!

    – Tim
    Jan 26 at 14:13
















15















I understand why you'd add courtesy accidentals, but I was browsing through some old sheet music lying around here and came across this, and can't seem to come up with a reason for this natural in bar 2:



enter image description here



What am i missing here? The signature's G and only the F's should be raised, so why naturalise the G's? I don't have any training, so maybe this is simply something I've missed in my self-study.



(It's from "Alec Eiffel" by Pixies BTW)



==edit==



enter image description here










share|improve this question




















  • 1





    could you please poste a few more bars and the staff of F clef too? I assume there could be a G# in the left hand if this is somewhat of a blues style ...

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 25 at 11:52






  • 1





    Hehe, it doesn't really provide any more info, except that the chord's E there. But I uploaded a picture, so you can see for yourself.

    – Creynders
    Jan 25 at 11:59






  • 1





    And the bass cleff is not provided separately btw. This is literally it

    – Creynders
    Jan 25 at 12:02






  • 1





    I would call this a courtesy accidental. The difference between "redundant" and "courtesy" is nil IMHO. Not really worth worrying about.

    – Carl Witthoft
    Jan 25 at 15:20






  • 1





    @CarlWitthoft - with you all the way. Basically can't see the point in that natural (or other superfluous accidentals) anyway. There's always enough stuff to read without overcrowding, I'm sure you'll agree!

    – Tim
    Jan 26 at 14:13














15












15








15








I understand why you'd add courtesy accidentals, but I was browsing through some old sheet music lying around here and came across this, and can't seem to come up with a reason for this natural in bar 2:



enter image description here



What am i missing here? The signature's G and only the F's should be raised, so why naturalise the G's? I don't have any training, so maybe this is simply something I've missed in my self-study.



(It's from "Alec Eiffel" by Pixies BTW)



==edit==



enter image description here










share|improve this question
















I understand why you'd add courtesy accidentals, but I was browsing through some old sheet music lying around here and came across this, and can't seem to come up with a reason for this natural in bar 2:



enter image description here



What am i missing here? The signature's G and only the F's should be raised, so why naturalise the G's? I don't have any training, so maybe this is simply something I've missed in my self-study.



(It's from "Alec Eiffel" by Pixies BTW)



==edit==



enter image description here







notation key-signatures accidentals






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Jan 25 at 11:58







Creynders

















asked Jan 25 at 11:38









CreyndersCreynders

6641313




6641313








  • 1





    could you please poste a few more bars and the staff of F clef too? I assume there could be a G# in the left hand if this is somewhat of a blues style ...

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 25 at 11:52






  • 1





    Hehe, it doesn't really provide any more info, except that the chord's E there. But I uploaded a picture, so you can see for yourself.

    – Creynders
    Jan 25 at 11:59






  • 1





    And the bass cleff is not provided separately btw. This is literally it

    – Creynders
    Jan 25 at 12:02






  • 1





    I would call this a courtesy accidental. The difference between "redundant" and "courtesy" is nil IMHO. Not really worth worrying about.

    – Carl Witthoft
    Jan 25 at 15:20






  • 1





    @CarlWitthoft - with you all the way. Basically can't see the point in that natural (or other superfluous accidentals) anyway. There's always enough stuff to read without overcrowding, I'm sure you'll agree!

    – Tim
    Jan 26 at 14:13














  • 1





    could you please poste a few more bars and the staff of F clef too? I assume there could be a G# in the left hand if this is somewhat of a blues style ...

    – Albrecht Hügli
    Jan 25 at 11:52






  • 1





    Hehe, it doesn't really provide any more info, except that the chord's E there. But I uploaded a picture, so you can see for yourself.

    – Creynders
    Jan 25 at 11:59






  • 1





    And the bass cleff is not provided separately btw. This is literally it

    – Creynders
    Jan 25 at 12:02






  • 1





    I would call this a courtesy accidental. The difference between "redundant" and "courtesy" is nil IMHO. Not really worth worrying about.

    – Carl Witthoft
    Jan 25 at 15:20






  • 1





    @CarlWitthoft - with you all the way. Basically can't see the point in that natural (or other superfluous accidentals) anyway. There's always enough stuff to read without overcrowding, I'm sure you'll agree!

    – Tim
    Jan 26 at 14:13








1




1





could you please poste a few more bars and the staff of F clef too? I assume there could be a G# in the left hand if this is somewhat of a blues style ...

– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 11:52





could you please poste a few more bars and the staff of F clef too? I assume there could be a G# in the left hand if this is somewhat of a blues style ...

– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 11:52




1




1





Hehe, it doesn't really provide any more info, except that the chord's E there. But I uploaded a picture, so you can see for yourself.

– Creynders
Jan 25 at 11:59





Hehe, it doesn't really provide any more info, except that the chord's E there. But I uploaded a picture, so you can see for yourself.

– Creynders
Jan 25 at 11:59




1




1





And the bass cleff is not provided separately btw. This is literally it

– Creynders
Jan 25 at 12:02





And the bass cleff is not provided separately btw. This is literally it

– Creynders
Jan 25 at 12:02




1




1





I would call this a courtesy accidental. The difference between "redundant" and "courtesy" is nil IMHO. Not really worth worrying about.

– Carl Witthoft
Jan 25 at 15:20





I would call this a courtesy accidental. The difference between "redundant" and "courtesy" is nil IMHO. Not really worth worrying about.

– Carl Witthoft
Jan 25 at 15:20




1




1





@CarlWitthoft - with you all the way. Basically can't see the point in that natural (or other superfluous accidentals) anyway. There's always enough stuff to read without overcrowding, I'm sure you'll agree!

– Tim
Jan 26 at 14:13





@CarlWitthoft - with you all the way. Basically can't see the point in that natural (or other superfluous accidentals) anyway. There's always enough stuff to read without overcrowding, I'm sure you'll agree!

– Tim
Jan 26 at 14:13










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















17














The harmony of the given chord in the 1st 2 bars is in E (major chord), the accidental in front of g you consider (minor third!) is referring to this Chord of E.






share|improve this answer





















  • 1





    Ah, ok I think I get it! Since the harmony's E and in the E chord there's no G but a G#, they want to alert you on that deviation, right?

    – Creynders
    Jan 25 at 12:05













  • I would say "chord" rather than "key," but this is obviously the correct answer.

    – phoog
    Jan 25 at 12:05






  • 6





    @Creynders that's a possible reason. It's also possible they didn't want you to think that they'd forgotten to put a sharp sign. I would have put the natural sign in parentheses.

    – phoog
    Jan 25 at 12:07













  • @phoog - Yep. The natural in front of the G is to ban the memory of the G# that went before in the accompaniment. And yeah, it should have been in parentheses.

    – Scott Wallace
    Jan 25 at 13:47






  • 1





    @AlbrechtHügli - it should perhaps be pointed out that the accidentals in early music you speak of are modern editor's additions- they don't appear in the original notation, with or without parentheses.

    – Scott Wallace
    Jan 28 at 19:20



















6














This is where the blues notes blur the key. The 'key' is more likely E, but in Eminor blues the E blues scale uses the same notes as the G major blues. The writer has decided that that G major/E minor key sig, is clearer/ more accurate, but when there is G note, since it's over an E major chord, it needs to be G natural, and thus it's a courtesy accidental.



It's impossible to write a key sig. for blues, thus the dilemma and the potential need for these courtesies.






share|improve this answer































    0














    the previous chord is an E Major chord, which has a G#, the natural sign is probably to remind you that you that the next bar does not have that, for some reason.






    share|improve this answer
























    • duplicate answer, therefore dv.

      – Tim
      Jan 26 at 8:37











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    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes








    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    17














    The harmony of the given chord in the 1st 2 bars is in E (major chord), the accidental in front of g you consider (minor third!) is referring to this Chord of E.






    share|improve this answer





















    • 1





      Ah, ok I think I get it! Since the harmony's E and in the E chord there's no G but a G#, they want to alert you on that deviation, right?

      – Creynders
      Jan 25 at 12:05













    • I would say "chord" rather than "key," but this is obviously the correct answer.

      – phoog
      Jan 25 at 12:05






    • 6





      @Creynders that's a possible reason. It's also possible they didn't want you to think that they'd forgotten to put a sharp sign. I would have put the natural sign in parentheses.

      – phoog
      Jan 25 at 12:07













    • @phoog - Yep. The natural in front of the G is to ban the memory of the G# that went before in the accompaniment. And yeah, it should have been in parentheses.

      – Scott Wallace
      Jan 25 at 13:47






    • 1





      @AlbrechtHügli - it should perhaps be pointed out that the accidentals in early music you speak of are modern editor's additions- they don't appear in the original notation, with or without parentheses.

      – Scott Wallace
      Jan 28 at 19:20
















    17














    The harmony of the given chord in the 1st 2 bars is in E (major chord), the accidental in front of g you consider (minor third!) is referring to this Chord of E.






    share|improve this answer





















    • 1





      Ah, ok I think I get it! Since the harmony's E and in the E chord there's no G but a G#, they want to alert you on that deviation, right?

      – Creynders
      Jan 25 at 12:05













    • I would say "chord" rather than "key," but this is obviously the correct answer.

      – phoog
      Jan 25 at 12:05






    • 6





      @Creynders that's a possible reason. It's also possible they didn't want you to think that they'd forgotten to put a sharp sign. I would have put the natural sign in parentheses.

      – phoog
      Jan 25 at 12:07













    • @phoog - Yep. The natural in front of the G is to ban the memory of the G# that went before in the accompaniment. And yeah, it should have been in parentheses.

      – Scott Wallace
      Jan 25 at 13:47






    • 1





      @AlbrechtHügli - it should perhaps be pointed out that the accidentals in early music you speak of are modern editor's additions- they don't appear in the original notation, with or without parentheses.

      – Scott Wallace
      Jan 28 at 19:20














    17












    17








    17







    The harmony of the given chord in the 1st 2 bars is in E (major chord), the accidental in front of g you consider (minor third!) is referring to this Chord of E.






    share|improve this answer















    The harmony of the given chord in the 1st 2 bars is in E (major chord), the accidental in front of g you consider (minor third!) is referring to this Chord of E.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited Jan 25 at 18:22

























    answered Jan 25 at 12:02









    Albrecht HügliAlbrecht Hügli

    2,526220




    2,526220








    • 1





      Ah, ok I think I get it! Since the harmony's E and in the E chord there's no G but a G#, they want to alert you on that deviation, right?

      – Creynders
      Jan 25 at 12:05













    • I would say "chord" rather than "key," but this is obviously the correct answer.

      – phoog
      Jan 25 at 12:05






    • 6





      @Creynders that's a possible reason. It's also possible they didn't want you to think that they'd forgotten to put a sharp sign. I would have put the natural sign in parentheses.

      – phoog
      Jan 25 at 12:07













    • @phoog - Yep. The natural in front of the G is to ban the memory of the G# that went before in the accompaniment. And yeah, it should have been in parentheses.

      – Scott Wallace
      Jan 25 at 13:47






    • 1





      @AlbrechtHügli - it should perhaps be pointed out that the accidentals in early music you speak of are modern editor's additions- they don't appear in the original notation, with or without parentheses.

      – Scott Wallace
      Jan 28 at 19:20














    • 1





      Ah, ok I think I get it! Since the harmony's E and in the E chord there's no G but a G#, they want to alert you on that deviation, right?

      – Creynders
      Jan 25 at 12:05













    • I would say "chord" rather than "key," but this is obviously the correct answer.

      – phoog
      Jan 25 at 12:05






    • 6





      @Creynders that's a possible reason. It's also possible they didn't want you to think that they'd forgotten to put a sharp sign. I would have put the natural sign in parentheses.

      – phoog
      Jan 25 at 12:07













    • @phoog - Yep. The natural in front of the G is to ban the memory of the G# that went before in the accompaniment. And yeah, it should have been in parentheses.

      – Scott Wallace
      Jan 25 at 13:47






    • 1





      @AlbrechtHügli - it should perhaps be pointed out that the accidentals in early music you speak of are modern editor's additions- they don't appear in the original notation, with or without parentheses.

      – Scott Wallace
      Jan 28 at 19:20








    1




    1





    Ah, ok I think I get it! Since the harmony's E and in the E chord there's no G but a G#, they want to alert you on that deviation, right?

    – Creynders
    Jan 25 at 12:05







    Ah, ok I think I get it! Since the harmony's E and in the E chord there's no G but a G#, they want to alert you on that deviation, right?

    – Creynders
    Jan 25 at 12:05















    I would say "chord" rather than "key," but this is obviously the correct answer.

    – phoog
    Jan 25 at 12:05





    I would say "chord" rather than "key," but this is obviously the correct answer.

    – phoog
    Jan 25 at 12:05




    6




    6





    @Creynders that's a possible reason. It's also possible they didn't want you to think that they'd forgotten to put a sharp sign. I would have put the natural sign in parentheses.

    – phoog
    Jan 25 at 12:07







    @Creynders that's a possible reason. It's also possible they didn't want you to think that they'd forgotten to put a sharp sign. I would have put the natural sign in parentheses.

    – phoog
    Jan 25 at 12:07















    @phoog - Yep. The natural in front of the G is to ban the memory of the G# that went before in the accompaniment. And yeah, it should have been in parentheses.

    – Scott Wallace
    Jan 25 at 13:47





    @phoog - Yep. The natural in front of the G is to ban the memory of the G# that went before in the accompaniment. And yeah, it should have been in parentheses.

    – Scott Wallace
    Jan 25 at 13:47




    1




    1





    @AlbrechtHügli - it should perhaps be pointed out that the accidentals in early music you speak of are modern editor's additions- they don't appear in the original notation, with or without parentheses.

    – Scott Wallace
    Jan 28 at 19:20





    @AlbrechtHügli - it should perhaps be pointed out that the accidentals in early music you speak of are modern editor's additions- they don't appear in the original notation, with or without parentheses.

    – Scott Wallace
    Jan 28 at 19:20











    6














    This is where the blues notes blur the key. The 'key' is more likely E, but in Eminor blues the E blues scale uses the same notes as the G major blues. The writer has decided that that G major/E minor key sig, is clearer/ more accurate, but when there is G note, since it's over an E major chord, it needs to be G natural, and thus it's a courtesy accidental.



    It's impossible to write a key sig. for blues, thus the dilemma and the potential need for these courtesies.






    share|improve this answer




























      6














      This is where the blues notes blur the key. The 'key' is more likely E, but in Eminor blues the E blues scale uses the same notes as the G major blues. The writer has decided that that G major/E minor key sig, is clearer/ more accurate, but when there is G note, since it's over an E major chord, it needs to be G natural, and thus it's a courtesy accidental.



      It's impossible to write a key sig. for blues, thus the dilemma and the potential need for these courtesies.






      share|improve this answer


























        6












        6








        6







        This is where the blues notes blur the key. The 'key' is more likely E, but in Eminor blues the E blues scale uses the same notes as the G major blues. The writer has decided that that G major/E minor key sig, is clearer/ more accurate, but when there is G note, since it's over an E major chord, it needs to be G natural, and thus it's a courtesy accidental.



        It's impossible to write a key sig. for blues, thus the dilemma and the potential need for these courtesies.






        share|improve this answer













        This is where the blues notes blur the key. The 'key' is more likely E, but in Eminor blues the E blues scale uses the same notes as the G major blues. The writer has decided that that G major/E minor key sig, is clearer/ more accurate, but when there is G note, since it's over an E major chord, it needs to be G natural, and thus it's a courtesy accidental.



        It's impossible to write a key sig. for blues, thus the dilemma and the potential need for these courtesies.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Jan 25 at 14:11









        TimTim

        101k10104257




        101k10104257























            0














            the previous chord is an E Major chord, which has a G#, the natural sign is probably to remind you that you that the next bar does not have that, for some reason.






            share|improve this answer
























            • duplicate answer, therefore dv.

              – Tim
              Jan 26 at 8:37
















            0














            the previous chord is an E Major chord, which has a G#, the natural sign is probably to remind you that you that the next bar does not have that, for some reason.






            share|improve this answer
























            • duplicate answer, therefore dv.

              – Tim
              Jan 26 at 8:37














            0












            0








            0







            the previous chord is an E Major chord, which has a G#, the natural sign is probably to remind you that you that the next bar does not have that, for some reason.






            share|improve this answer













            the previous chord is an E Major chord, which has a G#, the natural sign is probably to remind you that you that the next bar does not have that, for some reason.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Jan 25 at 18:12









            Neil MeyerNeil Meyer

            9,38722853




            9,38722853













            • duplicate answer, therefore dv.

              – Tim
              Jan 26 at 8:37



















            • duplicate answer, therefore dv.

              – Tim
              Jan 26 at 8:37

















            duplicate answer, therefore dv.

            – Tim
            Jan 26 at 8:37





            duplicate answer, therefore dv.

            – Tim
            Jan 26 at 8:37


















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