Enharmony

Enharmony

The ability to write the same pitch in many ways is called enharmony. F# and Gb are enharmonic.

Accidentals

A letter is natural, sharp or flat.

The letter is natural unless otherwise indicated.

Ab (flat) is a semitone lower than A natural.

A# (sharp) is a semitone higher than A natural.

Flat	Natural	Sharp
Ab	A	A#

A word of caution. In text the accidental follows the letter, as in Ab and A#. On the stave the accidental precedes the note head.

Watch your step!

C# is Db. E# is not Fb.

Remember, C to D is a tone and E to F is a semitone.

While C# is Db, E# is F and Fb is E. Beginners and advanced students often trip-up on this fact.

Gb

G

G#

Fb

F

F#

Ab

A

A#

Cb

C

C#

Eb

E

E#

Bb

B

B#

Db

D

D#

Cb

C

C#

½

½

½

½

½

½

½

½

½

½

½

½

½

½

½

Draw the keyboard for the pattern.

C# Db

D# Eb

F# Gb

G# Ab

A# Bb

C B#

D

E Fb

F E#

G

A

B Cb

Double flats and double sharps

Double flats and double sharps are accidentals for special occasions. A double flat is a semitone lower than flat. A double sharp is a semitone higher than sharp.

double flat	flat	natural	sharp	double sharp

The complete set of accidentals and their enharmonic equivalents follows.

Bx C# Db

D# Eb Fbb

Ex F# Gb

G# Ab

A# Bb Cbb

B# C Dbb

Cx D Ebb

Dx E Fb

E# F Gbb

Fx G Abb

Gx A Bbb

Ax B Cb