These notes are called enharmonic equivalents because they sound the same—indeed they are the same note—they just go by different names depending on the situation. G# is the same as Ab, C# is the same as Db, F# is the same as Gb, and so on. *Note: B to C, E to F are separated by half steps, so B#=C, and Cb=B, etc.
- What is an enharmonic note name?
- Why do some notes have the same name?
- What are the 9 Enharmonics?
- How do we know if a note is an enharmonic with another note?
What is an enharmonic note name?
An enharmonic is simply an alternate name for the same note. For instance, C# is the enharmonic of Db (and vice versa).
Why do some notes have the same name?
The multiple names of the notes occur because of the Strict Alphabetic Rule, which states that: Each of the 7 notes in a standard scale MUST have its own letter of the alphabet. This rule is because the lines and spaces on the Music Clef do NOT represent notes, they only represent LETTERS of the ALPHABET.
What are the 9 Enharmonics?
They are:
- C# is the same as Db.
- D# is the same as Eb.
- F# is the same Gb.
- G# is the same as Ab.
- A# is the same as Bb.
- B# is the same as C.
- Fb is the same as E.
- E# is the same as F.
How do we know if a note is an enharmonic with another note?
In other words, if two notes have the same pitch but have different letter names, we call them enharmonic. "Enharmonic intervals are intervals with the same sound that are spelled differently…