music symbols

Joe Delaronde · Post by **Joe Delaronde** » 23 Jan 2001 9:49 am

I do not read music, but with the help of BIAB I am translating music notes to steel tab.
There is one symbol which has me stumped.
I know the sharp sign is "#", and the flat sign is "b", but there is another symbol which looks like a flat sign with an extra arm or leg pointing down on the opposite side. If it's not a sharp or not a flat, what does it signify??????
This is a slow proceedure, but it works great. Thanks to the computer & BIAB where I can enter music and print it out.
Joe

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 23 Jan 2001 10:24 am

That sounds like a "natural" sign, meaning neither sharp nor flat.

Joe Delaronde · Post by **Joe Delaronde** » 23 Jan 2001 11:08 am

Ernest
Thanks for the reply, but if a note "is a note is a note" and placed on the bottom line of the staff, it would be E. Why is the natural sign needed? E is E isn't it, what esle could it be?
Joe

Bengt Erlandsen · Post by **Bengt Erlandsen** » 23 Jan 2001 11:16 am

For each measure of written music the accidental # or b is only used the first time for any given note and it will last for one measure or until a "natural sign" removes the accidental.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 23 Jan 2001 11:24 am

Another example: The key of G has one sharp, F#. If the author wanted you to play a plain F, he would insert the symbol for F natural.

Joe Delaronde · Post by **Joe Delaronde** » 23 Jan 2001 11:46 am

Got it!
Thanks guys.
Joe