Enharmonik

Enharmonik, in music theory, refers to pitches that sound identical but are spelled differently. The concept, commonly called enharmonic in English, is important in notation, tuning history, and tonal analysis. The word derives from Greek roots meaning “in harmony” or “in tune.”

In equal temperament, many pitches are enharmonic equivalents. Examples include C sharp and D flat, B and C flat, E sharp and F, and B sharp and C. The frequencies are identical in 12-tone tuning, so the difference is a matter of spelling and function.

Historically, in tunings such as meantone or Pythagorean, enharmonic spellings do not yield identical pitches; C sharp and D flat differ by about a syntonic comma (roughly 21.5 cents). That distinction influenced keyboard design, tuning, and temperaments before standardization on 12-TET.

In notation, enharmonics help preserve correct key signatures and voice leading. They also enable convenient spelling of chromatic chords and modulations. In modern Western music, 12-TET makes enharmonic spellings largely a notational convention rather than a pitch difference, though microtonal systems can differ.