What is natural in music?

• Natural refers to a note that is neither sharp (#) nor flat (b). It is also referred to as a white key on a piano.
• In Western music, the natural sign (♮) is used to cancel out a previous sharp or flat in a measure, thus returning the note to its natural state.
• The use of natural notes is fundamental to diatonic scales, such as the major and minor scales. For example, the C major scale consists entirely of natural notes (C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C).
• In music notation, a natural sign can be placed before a note to indicate that it is to be played as a natural, even if it is not a part of the key signature. This is called an accidental.
• Natural harmonics are produced on string instruments by lightly touching the string at certain points to produce a pure, clear tone. These include the fifth, seventh, and twelfth harmonics.