false relation

In musical harmony, the appearance of different voices (independent parts) of two notes which bear the same note name but not the same pitch, either simultaneously or in close succession; that is, where one is modified by a flat or sharp, and the other is a natural. For example, false relations occur if an E flat in the soprano voice is followed in the next chord by an E natural in the tenor voice. In traditional harmony and counterpoint, false relations are not encouraged because harmonic alterations in one voice, as represented by a modifying sharp or flat, are resolved most smoothly within the same voice.