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The Quick Guide On Enharmonic Note

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Enharmonic Notes

The Enharmonic Notes

Enharmonic notes indicate notes with different names but the same tone. 

The term enharmonics is used in music performance and notation to describe two different notes that are played the same way or on the same key.

If we truly understand the basics of accidentals in music notation we will definitely understand what sharp and flat are.

Also, if we have been playing around with keyboard instruments with sharps and flats we must have noticed something interesting.

For example, if we have played D sharp (D♯) and E flat (E♭) one after the other, we must have noticed that the two notes are played on the same black key.

Moreover, both D sharp (D♯) and E flat (E♭) will sound the same because they have the same note.

In this article, we will discuss what are enharmonic notes and look into its different examples as well.

What Are Enharmonic Notes?

Generally, enharmonic is a term used to describe the same tone on the keyboard instrument that is notated with different notes.

Therefore, we can say that enharmonic notes are two notes that sound the same way and produce with the same key on a keyboard but are notated differently on the staff.

So, two notes are enharmonically provided they sound the same and play on the same key on a keyboard instrument like the piano. And with this same sound, they are named and written differently on the staff.

Enharmonic notes are tones with different names but one tone. Technically, the names of the notes are many, but the tone of the notes themselves remain the same.

For example, G sharp (G♯) and A flat (A♭) are written as different notes but they have the same sound or pitch. Notes with the same tone or pitch are called enharmonic notes.

Enharmonic Notes Examples

Enharmonic Notes

Typical examples of enharmonic notes can be found on keyboard instruments like our electronic organ or grand piano.

For instance, C-Sharp (C♯) and D flat (D♭) are enharmonic notes. Because one tone which is the first key of two black keys groups will produce the two notes.

In a nut shell, both C-Sharp and D-flat are two different names with the same sound. And again, the two notes would look very different when notated on the staff. Notwithstanding, both of them would be played using the same black key on the keyboard.

For this reason, both C-Sharp (C♯) and D flat (D♭) are enharmonic notes.

Also, A-sharp (A♯) and B-flat (B♭) are enharmonic equivalents. Because both tones are produced with the same black key on a keyboard instrument like the piano.

This is very common with the black keys on the keyboard instrument like the piano. However, the white keys which are natural notes can also be written enharmonically on the staff as well.

For instance, C natural (C) and B sharp (B♯) are enharmonic notes. Also, the E sharp (E♯) and F natural (F) are another example of it.

Enharmonic Spelling

This is the system of rewriting a note in order to make it look different on staff but play with the same key on a piano keyboard.

For instance, when we notate a note as B flat instead of A sharp, we practice enharmonic spelling.

Enharmonic spelling is responsible when you see a B-sharp in a perfect and nice music piece for piano performance instead of C-natural.

Obviously, the note is notated as B-sharp but what you will play on the piano still remains C-natural. This is possible because of the enharmonic equivalent of the two notes.

For more understanding, you can read the Enharmonic spelling article by Prof. Nancy Rogers.


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