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Published:
2005-09-01
Updated:
2022-08-24

Learning Ukulele with Curt

Enharmonic Equivalents

An "Enharmonic Equivalent" is where a musical pitch can have different names depending on the context in which it is functioning. An example is G# produces the same pitch as Ab but have different standard notations when written in music.

Author(s): Curt Sheller Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications Code: ML-basic-19

Main Category: Theory Main Instrument: Any

Subjects: Chords

2022-08-24

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Glossary of Terms Whole Steps and Half Steps Explained The Chromatic Scale Enharmonic Equivalents The Major Scale Cycle of Fifths and Fourths Ear Training Chord Spelling - Triads Chord Spelling and Alternate Approach Learning to Play in Time Demystifying Cut Time The Three Words

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Enharmonic Equivalents

An "Enharmonic Equivalent" is where a musical pitch can have different names depending on the context in which it is functioning. An example is G# produces the same pitch as Ab but have different standard notations when written in music.

Enharmonic equivalents, same pitch — different name, will sound the same but are notated differently using standard music notation.

Enharmonic Equivalents are used for the correct spelling of scales and chords.

Sharp to Flats @svg('music/symbols/accidentals/Sharp', 'fill-white | h-6') @svg('music/symbols/accidentals/Flat', 'fill-white | h-6')

  • A# <=> Bb
  • B# <=> C
  • C# <=> Db
  • D# <=> Eb
  • E# <=> F
  • F# <=> Gb
  • G# <=> Ab

Flats to Sharps @svg('music/symbols/accidentals/Flat', 'fill-white | h-6') @svg('music/symbols/accidentals/Sharp', 'fill-white | h-6')

  • Ab <=> G#
  • Bb <=> A#
  • Cb <=> B
  • Db <=> C#
  • Eb <=> D#
  • Fb <=> E
  • Gb <=> F#

So Yes, there is an E♯, B♯, C♭, and F♭.

More Enharmonic Equivalents content below, continue exploring...

more Enharmonic Equivalents

The Piano

The piano provides a great graphical representation of the natural notes ( A B C D E F G ) their sharps and flats. ALL the white keys are the natural notes.

Note: Although a lot less common than the above sharp and flat equivalents, there are also double sharps, double flats. And although very, very rare even triple sharps and flats These would be called Enharmonic Equivalents as well.

Often in the quest to have something played correctly and not knowing the final musician's musicial level that would play a piece. It is safer to use a more common Enharmonic equivalent.

Chord Spelling

The notes of ALL chords can be determined from their corresponding major scale.

Using the C, C♯, and C♭ Major scales as examples. The chord tomes for the major triads are the 1st, 3rd, and 5th scale degrees of their corresponding scales.

C

Major Scale: C D E F G A B C`. The C major triad is C E G.

C♯

Major Scale: C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯`. The C♯; major triad is C♯ E♯ G♯.

C♭

Major Scale: C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭; A♭ B♭ C♭`. The C♭ major triad is C♭ E♭ G♭.

As you see, the letter E is the 3rd and can never be the 4th. E♯ is not the same name as F — same pitch, yes — name, No.