[Tekker]

Enharmonic Notes:

In the above example for the G major scale, notice that the F# could also be called Gb. These are called enharmonic notes because the two names F# and Gb both represent the same note. In other words you can call this note an F# or a Gb and either name would be correct. So the question is how do you know which one to use, and does it matter what you call it?

In a way it really doesn't matter which one you call it as long as you use either one of the correct names. If you say "play an F#" or "play a Gb" to another musician they should know what you are talking about in either case.

However, from a theoretical standpoint the trick to knowing which enharmonic tone to use is you want to use every note from A to G one time in the major scale. So theoretically speaking, you wouldn’t want to have two G notes (Gb and G) and no F notes.

An example of Incorrect Notation:
G A B C D E Gb G - Using two different G notes (Gb and G) and no F notes is incorrect notation.

Correct Notation:
G A B C D E F# G - Uses each letter of the musical alphabet one time.