enharmonic
hɑrˈmɒnBased on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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enharmonic (ˌɛnhɑːˈmɒnɪk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 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 |
| [C17: from Latin enharmonicus, from Greek enarmonios, from | |
| enhar'monically | |
| —adv | |
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| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
enharmonic
in the system of equal temperament tuning used on keyboard instruments, two tones that sound the same but are notated (spelled) differently. Pitches such as F and G are said to be enharmonic equivalents; both are sounded with the same key on a keyboard instrument. The same is true of intervals, which are always named according to their notation: A-F is an augmented sixth, while A-G and G-F are both minor sevenths; all are enharmonically equivalent. C major (which has a key signature with seven sharps) and D major (with five flats) are enharmonically the same key; D major is considered easier to read and thus is much more commonly used than C major. Enharmonic tones and intervals are often components of pivot chords in modulation (change of key), especially if the composer is changing from a key notated in flats to one notated in sharps (or vice versa).
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