The difference between enharmonic scales?

Question

What's the difference between e.g. C flat major and B major? Or F sharp minor and G flat minor?

Answer 1

The tones themselves are not different. However, the way everything is spelled is in music theory. Also, you have to remember that key signatures existed before well-tempered tuning (everything tuned at a half step). Therefore, a harpsichord would need to be tuned with the correct semi-tones in C flat major vs. different semi-tones in B major. Since we now have well-tempered tuning, it isn't much of an issue anymore. However, some composers feel that the flat keys are "warmer" than the sharp keys, even if they ARE enharmonic.

Good question. Let me know if there's something here I could answer better.

Answer 2

Notation. They sound exactly the same. C flat major would be written

Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb - most people would panic upon seeing a key signiature with 8 flats in it, so it's often so much better to write it in B instead.

As for F# and Gb it's often down to preference. Some people prefer thinking in sharps or flats - or prefer reading (or writing) in one key rather than the enharmonic. For F# and Gb majors it's really down to preference as they both have 6 accidentals. Personally I find F# major preferable - don't know why, I just think it's easier.