Online Lessons - FAQ

Enharmonic Equivalents

I recently purchased the referenced book (A Guide to Ukulele Chords) and noticed on page 46, under the subject "Learning the Fingerboard" E# is shown under fret 1 and Fb under fret 4. I'm confused? My understanding of the musical scales is that there are no sharp or flats between E and F and B and C since they are natural half steps. Am I wrong?

You are right that there is a natural half step between E and F and B and C. But - any one of the seven letters of the musical alphabet can be sharped or flatted. Even double flats and double sharps exist. These is needed for particular keys. And for the correct scale and chord spelling of particular scale and chords.

A good example is the key of C#, not a very common key but, all seven letters are sharped, C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B#, C#. The same would be true of Cb where all seven letters are flatted.

Scale theory states that a letter can not be skipped or repeated in seven note diatonic scales. The major scale is one of the diatonic scales and the basis for the major keys.

There are 12 notes in one octave but there are 15 keys. Three are "Enharmonic Equivalents". C#/Db, F#/Gb, B/Cb.

There is a little more to it than the above. But the bottom line is that there is E#, Fb, B# and Cb. There are called "Enharmonic Equivalents". Both E and Fb produce the same pitch.

The E is far more common than Fb and B more common than Cb. Sometimes they are even used when the correct notation would be the Fb for E or the Cb for B. This is done for ease of reading.

Here is a link to a UkuleleLessons that talks about Enharmonic Equivalents

What is the difference between a flat and a -, a # and + in chords?

Common Interval Notation

- is min when indicating chords. Also used to indication a flat as in C7-9

+ is Augmented in chords.

There is what I call Intervalic and Functional Notation of intervals and chord degrees. The confusion comes from mixing the two.

Intervalic Notation

Minor (-)

The relative interval notation uses negative numbers for falling intervals in semitones.

Lower upper note of any MAJOR interval 1/2 step.

Diminished (o)

Lower upper note of any PERFECT interval 1/2 step.

Lower upper note of any MAJOR interval 1 step.

Augmented (+)

The relative interval notation uses positive numbers to indicate rising intervals in semitones.

Raise upper note of any MAJOR or PERFECT interval 1/2 step.

Functional Notation

• # (sharp sign)
• b (flat sign)
• maj (major)
• m (minor)
• dim (diminished)
• aug (augmented)

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Done with real jobs and don't like real jobs!