Questions tagged [enharmonics]
For questions related to the different spelling of same-sounding pitches (e.g., C-sharp and D-flat).
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How should I make "exotic" scale enharmonic decisions?
I'm creating a scale visualiser (JavaScript based website) for guitar. I recently updated so it will use "correct" enharmonics e.g. major scales it will default to "Bb" tonic ...
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Were the correct enharmonics used here?
I’m still a bit new to properly writing out sheet music, so I was wondering if the last few measures (see image below) were written out correctly. If they aren’t, then which ones are wrong and why (...
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Why does spelling change the consonance/dissonance of the exact same interval?
The interval of F# to A is a minor third, an imperfect consonance. But if we spell the F# as a Gb, suddenly we have created an augmented 2nd, a dissonance. Sonically, these two situations are the ...
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What chord do we get by raising the fifth of a minor triad?
Raising the fifth of a major triad gives an augmented triad. For example, you can get from C (C-E-G) to C+ (C-E-G♯) by raising the fifth.
However, what happens if this is done to a minor triad? Doing ...
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Why are diminished fifths called tritones?
The word "tritone" basically means three whole tones. In the C major scale, we find this between F and B as F-G-A-B. This interval is also called an augmented fourth. However, a diminished ...
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Is it correct to write C♯♯♯♯♯♯♯♯♯♯♯♯ (twelve sharps) as C?
Let's say there is a song that starts at middle C and the next note is always the previous note raised by a perfect fifth or lowered by a perfect fourth to keep all notes within audible ranges. By ...
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Is an E augmented triad the same as a C inverted augmented triad?
I know that a C augmented triad is C, E, G♯ and an E augmented triad is E, G♯, B♯. However, I think we can replace the B♯ in the E augmented triad by its enharmonic equivalent, a C. Is it appropriate ...
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Are diminished 5ths more dissonant than augmented 4ths?
To me when I play these intervals they sounds the same, yet in my harmony textbooks there seems to be a big difference on how these intervals are treated in voice leading.
The principal difference is ...
user35708
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When is b6 a #5 in major mode?
If I am in C major I will often see the b6 described as "mode mixture" in my text books or a borrowed note from the natural minor scale. However if I am in the key of C and play a III chord ...
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Half step modulations in music [closed]
I'm looking for cllasical/Jazz music pieces with half step (semitone) modulations.
I'm assuming that this type of modulation could appear in the form of enharmonic modulation- when the pivot chord (...
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Can F# present in the key of Db?
I'm coding an algorithm for transpose chords, but I only have little knowledge of the Music theory.
Is it wrong F# include in key of Db instead of Gb? If the key with a flat all the enharmonic chords ...
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How to notate Gb7 with E natural and Eb?
I'm trying to notate a progression from the linked video using Musescore, and am confused by the Gb7...
I thought I understood the concept of enharmonics, but in this case, I'm not sure how to apply ...
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Db in realization of "A7alt" in Levine's piano book
In this other question about Mark Levine's jazz piano book, there's an enharmonic spelling of b9 of G7b9 as G# instead of Ab, which some users objected to:
To me that seemed completely fine, because ...
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Is a note that is enharmonic to a diatonic note of some diatonic scale, also diatonic in regards to that scale?
I'm learning some music theory from a book, and encountered some question in my head that I can't seem to answer.
The question is in the title:
Is a note that is enharmonic to a diatonic note of some ...
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Why does major 2nd have more harmonics than major 3rd?
I was watching this video about Just-intonation tuning system. In this video he is explaining how the harmonics work.
He is explaining that the first harmonic is created by dividing a string into half,...
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Under what circumstances, if any, would we hear enharmomics of the perfect fourth or fifth (e.g. augmented third) in a tonal composition?
The question says it all. I'm assuming 12-tone equal temperament.
To give a more familiar example, we hear a minor third and an augmented second differently, for one is a consonance and the other is a ...
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Can you tonicize to a chord that's not on the original key?
I had a discussion with a few people on Chopin's Nocturne in B-flat minor. We couldn't reach an agreement and I'm curious how people would analyze it.
In the middle section of the piece (which is in ...
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Outside of Equal Temperament, what decides the spelling of notes in a major scale?
I've been reading up on the history of temperament, and how enharmonic notes are more of a limitation of the modern piano (only one black key), and also mathematically they are the same if you use ...
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Notation of measure 2 in Chopin's Prelude #4 in E minor
The first measure has G-B-E-B, i.e. E minor tonic chord, first inversion. Makes sense so far.
Then the next measure is F♯-A-E-B followed by F♯-A-E♭-B , not so clear. According to this page the second ...
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Cb/B problem while creating lead sheet
I'm making a lead sheet of the song "One" by Esperanza Spalding.
I chose the key of Bb because the song feels the most "at home" when the progression lands there at the guitar solo ...
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Is there any reason to use F flat in notating this blues riff (jazz)?
I am reading though Dariusz Terefenko's Jazz theory book, and in the chapter on Improvisation (chapter 10) he lists a few typical 1-, 2- and 4-bars blues riffs, all on a Bb blues scale. Several of ...
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Is it better to write music in F♯ Major or in G♭ Major?
Is it better to write music in F♯ Major or in G♭ Major? Seeing as they are enharmonic (in our 12-tone musical system), what are the advantages / disadvantages of writing in either, or should it be ...
user70124
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Why is Eb to A# not a perfect 5th?
I read a mock question that asked if Eb to A# was a perfect 5th.
I counted up 7 semitones, and concluded it was.
The answer says that it’s not, but not why.
Is it simply because the enharmonic ...
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preference of the key of B or Cb (also G#min and Abmin)
The debate of whether F# or Gb is a better key is very prominent, but I'd like to discuss the keys of B and Cb.
As a guitar player, I would much rather have the key of B to play in. As a trombonist, ...
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How are names of enharmonic notes determined?
In our current 12TET system, is it really incorrect to refer to E♭ as D♯ if one mentions them standalone with no reference to tonality? I understand how the notes in a diatonic scale are ...
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never ending omnibus progression
When I studied music theory in college (years ago), I remember my theory instructor demonstrating a use of the omnibus progression where it would go on forever, sounding continuous to the untrained ...
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In chord construction, in a Adim, for example, is it indifferrent to have instead of A, C, D#, have, A, C and Eb
In chord a construction, in a Adim, for example, is it indifferent to have instead of A, C, D#, have, A, C and Eb?
user63382
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How can I improve my violin intonation for enharmonic notes?
I know that while, for many instruments, enharmonic notes are a single pitch and their differences are more of an interpretation, helping music to remain consistent (it would make more sense for a ...
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Alto saxophone fingering for notes written below the staff
I am a beginner on the alto saxophone. I understand the fingering for playing notes on the staff but I do not understand the fingering for playing notes below the staff. Sometimes there are two extra ...
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A♭ 13 Chord Notation
A website detailing piano chords uses the following pitch notation for A-flat 13 chords:
A♭13 → A♭-C-E♭-G♭-B♭-D♭-F (R, M3, P5, m7, M9, m11, m13)
A♭m13 → A♭-B-E♭-G♭-C♭♭-D♭-F (R, m3, P5, m7, M9, m11, ...
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In harmony: key or the flow?
I play ambient music and my approach on creating chord lines is simple, just try to stick on the key and if I want to change the key then make it subtle.
But today I tried to create harmony lines ...
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How to determine the names of the notes in any given scale
Are there any rules for naming the notes in a scale that can apply to any given scale? I know it's straightforward for diatonic. You just use each of the first 7 letters of the alphabet and [double]...
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Why is printed music published with incorrect enharmonics?
I'm seeing more and more music that contains conflicting or erroneous information - for example, C°7 written with an A, (not B♭♭), or E7♭5 with A♯ (not B♭).
Wondering if ...
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Is there a benefit to writing in C# major over Db major? [duplicate]
As the title says. It seems that the really sharp keys (e.g. C#, F#, etc.) are really cumbersome to write and play in, so I was wondering if there were any advantages to them over keys like Db and Gb.
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Why do E♯ and F♮ not sound the same (according to Wikipedia)?
I was just reading the Wikipedia page on the note F (as I do every evening) and was confused by this part where it says that even though F♮ and E♯ are enharmonic they “do not sound the same”:
E♯ is ...
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How to determine if an interval is enharmonic or not
I'm new to music theory, and reading through the basics I learned about interval classifications. But, along with that many questions came to my head. The one I want to ask today is the following:
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Why is Erik Satie's Saraband 1 in A flat major?
Why is Erik Satie's Saraband 1 in A flat major?
There are so many F, C, and G flat accidentals through out the score it seem like it could have been notated in G sharp minor (enharmonic of A flat ...
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Identifying the roots of diminished 7th chords( depending on function)?
Diminished 7th chords are symmetric. Each one could be the same quality chord on any root note that is a chord tone inside it. So, is there agreement on which name to use for these chords? I know that ...
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What is the most common way to refer to a particular note in the chromatic scale without making any implications as regards tonality?
It seems to me that in current musical practice, we are often in a 12-TET situation where effectively, we have an (octave repeating) set of 12 notes that make up the chromatic scale, each of which can ...
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If B has five sharps, and C♭ has seven flats then how can C♭ and B be the same key?
I was learning the seven-mirror rule trick online today. There was a diagram of every major key along with its corresponding number of accidentals. It was shown that the key of C♭ has seven flats. But,...
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Why are C♯ and D♭ different frequencies?
I am a music enthusiast, and I was recently reading What is the difference between equivalent Flat and Sharp keys as far as musical notation? Are there any reasons to prefer one over the other?
This ...
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Why are there different names for the same interval? [duplicate]
The intervals F-B and B-F are called Augmented Fourth and Diminished Fifth respectively, but they are really both the same interval - a tritone.
Why are they named differently?
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Why use the key of C#?
I was reading about Brahms, and it was mentioned that he had composed a piece in C# Major.
AFAIK, we generally don't use C# Major in jazz or rock music because the key signature has 7 sharps, so it'...
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What does this note - B# - mean?
I'm confused as to how I should play the second note below, B#. Does it mean it's C? It is possible? In which case, why is it written like this, and not just C?
Sonata quasi una Fantasia, First ...
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How to differentiate between a diminished fifth and an augmented fourth interval?
Both are a tritone appart, both sound the same. How can we differentiate when an interval is an augmented fourth or a diminished fifth?
Context:
In voice leading we learn that when the spelling of ...
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What's the difference between a G♭ and an F#?
I've heard it said that, whilst on most instruments these notes are played with the same fingerings/technique/etc., there is a subtle difference.
This isn't specific to this particular note ...
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