Octave
The octave in which a note is notated and/or played is indicated by a number after the note name.
A4 is the middle A on the piano (A4=440Hz) and the usual tuning tone.
To indicate that all notes should be played an octave higher than notation, use ottava (8va)
To move a note up an octave use <*>, move down an octave with </>
| note | designation | name | reach | comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C0 | ''C | sub-contra | C0-B0 | A0 is lowest note on piano, lower is sometimes found on a large pipe organ |
| C1 | 'C | contra | C1-B1 | |
| C2 | C | big | C2-B2 | Great because it used to be written with a capital letter |
| C3 | c | small | C3-B3 | Small because it used to be written with a small letter |
| C4 | c' | one lined | C4-B4 | C4 is middle C on piano as well as in notation on a piano system. Middle A is also in this octave |
| C5 | c'' | two-lined | C5-B5 | |
| C6 | c''' | three-lined | C6-B6 | C6 is the 'high c' of a soprano voice |
| C7 | c'''' | four-lined | C7-B7 | |
| C8 | c''''' | five-lined | C8-B8 | C8 is the highest note on a piano, much higher notes are not musically interesting (because inaudible for many people) |