Certificate of Merit (CM) Level 8 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Pitches that are the same but are named or spelled differently are described as enharmonic. This term is used in music theory to refer to two different notations that represent the same pitch. For example, the note C♯ can also be referred to as D♭; even though they have different names, they produce the same sound when played.

Understanding enharmonic notes is crucial for interpreting music across different contexts and keys, as it allows musicians to recognize that despite the varied spelling, the pitch remains constant. The concept of enharmonics is particularly relevant in the context of tuning systems and keyboard instruments, where there can be multiple ways to denote a single pitch.

The other options relate to different musical concepts that do not address the specific idea of pitches having different names while being the same note. An ostinato refers to a repeated musical phrase, an ornament involves decorative notes added to a melody, and an arpeggio is the playing of the notes of a chord in sequence rather than simultaneously. None of these terms convey the notion of different names for the same pitch.