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Enharmonic Equivalents: Definition of Enharmonic with Examples
Enharmonic refers to notes that are identical, but are written differently, so are called enharmonic equivalents. For example, in the previous table, there are notes written as E♯ and B♯. These are enharmonic equivalents of the notes F and C, respectively.
Whenever you see two identical notes, intervals, scales, or keys with different names (or “spellings”)—and it happens quite a bit in music—the two are enharmonic equivalents. So, for instance, the key of C♯ is the enharmonic equivalent of the key of D♭. And the note E♯ is the enharmonic equivalent of the note F. Two different names for exactly the same thing.
Sometimes you even see double ... double sharps or double flats (after downing eight shots of tequila). For example, F♯♯, which normally looks like this: F𝄪 , is the enharmonic equivalent of G. (See Table 26 below.)
(Tuning purists will note that enharmonic equivalency only applies in equal temperament tuning, and that in other tuning systems, C♯ and D♭ are actually slightly different pitches. Fine. But in popular music, equal temperament rules. So in this book, C♯ and D♭ are always exactly the same note.)