What are enharmonic notes? They are two notes that sound the same but are written differently. This seems strange and totally unnecessary, but to understand it, let’s compare the words of the English language with the notes of the musical language.

For example, the words two, too, and for, ALL SOUND the same but are spelled differently. He spells them out based on how you use them. I have two cats. I went to the store. There are “too many” flies in the house! In the English language, you would never say “I have cats.” It is the wrong version of the word. However, all three versions of “to” sound the same. You only know the difference when it is put into context. Think of other words that sound the same but are spelled differently. Other examples include: his or there, son or sun, week or weak, rest or brake, he or hymn, etc.

In music, notes that sound the same can also have two names, just like words. The reason for this is that note patterns are important in helping you read musical scales and patterns, just as word patterns help you read sentences better.

Go online and find a picture of a piano keyboard showing the note names of the black and white keys. Type “piano key images” in the search box and you will find several to choose from. You should note that all the black keys have TWO note names.

The normal notes of the black key:

• C sharp = D-flat
• D-sharp = E flat
• F sharp = G-flat
• G-sharp = A-flat
• A sharp = B flat

The odd ducks (white keys with two note names):

• My sharp = F
• F-flat = E
• If sharp = C
• C-plane = B

THAT !? Why can the white keys also have enharmonic names? As a reminder (or in case you didn’t know), a sharp raises a note on a piano key (half a step) and a flat lowers a note on a piano key (also a half step). For example, look at an “E” (to the right of the group of two black keys). To go up a semitone (the high note), you must go to the next KEY. That key is called “F”. So “E-sharp” is the same note as “F”. To make the “F” inverse and flat, lower ONE key on the piano. This means that “F-flat” is the same as “E”.

The same is true for “B” and “C” because there is no black key between those notes. “E” to “F” and “B” to “C” are considered natural semitones because they lack a black key between them.

Remember before when I said that it is important to write correctly in music as it is with words? In music, we learn to recognize everything based on patterns. Scales are note patterns that fit different key signatures (a lesson for another day). By reading music, a performer learns to recognize the appropriate scale based on the notes of the musical passage. After a while, a performer no longer has to look at every note because he begins to recognize the musical patterns within the music. To “spell” a scale correctly, it is important to use the correct version of the note. For example, a major scale “F-sharp” and “G-flat” are exactly the same scale. To the listener, they both sound the same. These scales are “enharmonic” with each other.

Why do you need to learn enharmonics? When reading a piece of music, it is much easier to know which note to play if you can remember that when you see “A-sharp” in one measure and then you see it again as “B-flat” in the next measure (always this way in scales chromatic), are the same fingering on your instrument.

Ways to practice learning enharmonics:

• Make name cards for individual notes on the front. (E flat, D sharp, F sharp, G flat, etc.). Each note has its own card. Write the name of the enharmonic note or fingering on the back. Go over the flashcards every day and put any notes that you don’t get right away in the pile. Go over the flashcards until you remember them all quickly. Repeat until all enharmonics are solidly cemented in the brain.
• Practice filling in blank piano keyboards as a timed test. See how quickly you can tag all the notes.
• Practice chromatic scales (going up and down) on your instrument. Notes become crisp going up and flat going down. Read music while you practice this scale.
• Practice the “F-Sharp” and “D-flat” major scales. First, write the names of the notes only for each scale. Then look at them on staff.

As with all things in life, if you want to improve, practice. But good practice will require patience and perseverance. There is no simple button to learn music.

Happy practice!