enharmonic

American  

[en-hahr-mon-ik] / ˌɛn hɑrˈmɒn ɪk /

adjective

Music.

1. having the same pitch in the tempered scale but written in different notation, as G sharp and A flat.

---

enharmonic British  

/ ˌɛnhɑːˈmɒnɪk /

adjective

1. denoting or relating to a small difference in pitch between two notes such as A flat and G sharp: not present in instruments of equal temperament such as the piano, but significant in the intonation of stringed and wind instruments

2. denoting or relating to enharmonic modulation

---

Other Word Forms

• enharmonically adverb

Etymology

Origin of enharmonic

1590–1600; < Late Latin enharmonicus < Greek enarmónios ( -icus replacing -ios ), equivalent to en- en- ¹ + harmoní ( a ) harmony + -os adj. suffix

Example Sentences

This is an example of enharmonic spelling.

From Literature

Two notes are enharmonic if they sound the same on a piano but are named and written differently.

From Literature

Name the other enharmonic notes that are listed above the black keys on the keyboard in Figure 1.28.

From Literature

But these are not the only possible enharmonic notes.

From Literature

Give at least one enharmonic spelling for the following notes.

From Literature