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 ...
Simon's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
181 views

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 (...
Toastables's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
145 views

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 ...
OprenStein's user avatar
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6 votes
3 answers
442 views

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 ...
mathlander's user avatar
9 votes
4 answers
2k views

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 ...
mathlander's user avatar
0 votes
7 answers
2k views

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 ...
mathlander's user avatar
2 votes
6 answers
747 views

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 ...
mathlander's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
193 views

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 ...
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4 votes
4 answers
554 views

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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1 vote
0 answers
69 views

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 (...
Shir Nishri's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
177 views

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 ...
Nishantha's user avatar
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2 answers
151 views

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 ...
ptim's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
491 views

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 ...
piiperi Reinstate Monica's user avatar
5 votes
5 answers
170 views

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 ...
YuvalHelman's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
74 views

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,...
parvin's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
508 views

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 ...
Felipe Martins's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
1k views

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 ...
lbbl59's user avatar
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6 votes
4 answers
1k views

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 ...
Darren's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
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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 ...
M.M's user avatar
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7 answers
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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 ...
yerman's user avatar
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6 votes
4 answers
1k views

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 ...
stefano's user avatar
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2 answers
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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 ...
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4 votes
2 answers
588 views

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 ...
Marcos Scriven's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
363 views

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, ...
Lars's user avatar
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12 votes
3 answers
555 views

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 ...
user11845919's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
432 views

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 ...
James M. Lay's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
153 views

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?
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9 votes
2 answers
630 views

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 ...
Kevin's user avatar
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2 answers
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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 ...
Bernard Moses's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
115 views

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, ...
Dick Ritchie's user avatar
3 votes
5 answers
701 views

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 ...
Gery's user avatar
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5 votes
3 answers
540 views

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]...
Taylor Vance's user avatar
12 votes
8 answers
2k views

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 ...
Tim's user avatar
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0 votes
4 answers
2k views

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.
Dirge of Dreams's user avatar
32 votes
7 answers
10k views

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 ...
Aran G's user avatar
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5 votes
5 answers
798 views

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: ...
Bruno Alva's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
150 views

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 ...
Michael Curtis's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
416 views

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 ...
user45266's user avatar
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12 votes
6 answers
2k views

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 ...
Нет войне's user avatar
10 votes
4 answers
3k views

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,...
Crosby's user avatar
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34 votes
9 answers
14k views

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 ...
yasar's user avatar
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0 votes
3 answers
989 views

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?
Curious Ra's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
5k views

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'...
Stinkfoot's user avatar
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38 votes
13 answers
41k views

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 ...
laurent's user avatar
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20 votes
5 answers
29k views

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 ...
NPN328's user avatar
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68 votes
5 answers
16k views

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 ...
8128's user avatar
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