When reading sheet music...?

Question

This question relates to the use of 'naturals' in neutralizing sharps/flats. If i'm in the key of E minor (F# the only sharp), and come across a sharped D or C in the sheet music, how long does that sharp stick around? That is, is a natural REQUIRED to neutralize that sharp/flat? Does the D# remain a D# until a natural is registered? Or is there a general convention by which the D# goes back to just D without explicity calling the natural?

I'm obviously not a classically trained player, and I don't understand how this convention (or lack thereof) is used.

Thanks in advance.


Note: If what I said doesn't make any sense, think of this;
a simple 3-tone progression in Eminor:
scored as D#-E-D;
Is the third tone also sharped since it lacks the natural? Or does it revert by some convention?

Answer 1

You only hold the sharps or naturals through the measure they occur in or, if the note is tied into a second measue you hold it untill the note ends.

Answer 2

When a Sharp or a Flat is marked in that is not ni the original key signature, it is called an accidental. An accidental will take affect until the end of the measure, unless the note is tied into the next. So if the D# E D is all within the same measure, the second D would also be played as a D#.

Answer 3

If there are notes that have accidentals such as flats or sharps on them that are not in the key in which you are playing, then they last only in the measure that they appear. In a key in which there is a flat/sharp on one note, a natural sign IS required to neutralize it.. The D# does remain a D# unless there is a natural sign attached to it. There is no possible way to neutralize the note unless you were to change the key signature for those measures in which the flats/sharps are not used (but its easier to just stick the natural sign there)

Answer 4

sharps flats, and naturals that are placed in a measure randomly are referred to as accidentals. All accidentals last to the end of the measure they are written in, unless changed by a natural before the end of the measure. after the measure bar, the note returns to its position with in the key signature.

in minor scales, because of the loss of a leading tone, the seventh step of the scale is raised so that it is a half step from the tonic instead of a whole. when you see the sixth and seventh raised , this is referred to the melodic minor

your example of D# - E - D would be at the end of the scale movement going upward then returning returning downward. a better example would be C# - D# - E - D - C.

Answer 5

An 'accidental' (that sharp or flat you've mentioned) is current only for the bar (measure) in which it appears UNLESS it is tied overb to a note in the following bar/measure. If, in the same measure in which an accidental alters a note, the composer later whishes it cancelled, he will insert the appropriate sign (a 'natural' sign, for example, to cancel a sharp or flat).

In some 'modern' music which is not in any key, you will sometimes see an explanatory note by the composer saying accidentals apply only to the note they precede but this is NOT standard practice (what I have explained above is).

Answer 6

Yes, as three others have said, the accidental only applies to that particular measure (unless the note in question is tied over to a following measure). Thus, it's considered a given that the note will go back to its natural state after that measure. Some composers and/or arrangers of music will occasionally put in courtesy accidentals in the following measure to remind the performer, but it's not necessary.

Answer 7

I don't think there are any sites like that out there. Why don't you just learn how to read sheet music instead? It isn't hard at all and it will make your playing life a whole lot easier, especially since your playing the piano.

Answer 8

Alex is right--the # (or flat) stays that way through that measure (until you see the next bar) unless it's held over to the next bar. Then it goes back to the original key signature.

Answer 9

first, there are 4 sharps in e, not 1, the answer to your question, naturals remain for the rest of a measure, also, sharps and flats remain for the full measure. E.G. you find a d#, then in the same measure a regular d (without a natural) it will still be d#, hope that helps =)

Answer 10

you only keep them throughout the measure that they show up in. or occur.