enharmonic

[en-hahr-mon-ik]

adjective

Music.

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

enharmonic

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of enharmonic¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of enharmonic¹

C17: from Latin enharmonicus, from Greek enarmonios, from _en- ² + harmonia; see _harmony

Example Sentences

This is an example of enharmonic spelling.

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

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

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But these are not the only possible enharmonic notes.

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Enharmonic tetrachords are particularly confusing; it is clear that two of the notes were very close in pitch.

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