Questions tagged [octave]

An octave or perfect octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency.

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Why aren't clefs aligned with octaves? [duplicate]

It looks like my questions is largely answered by Why not use only octave clefs?. I'm going to leave this here anyways in case it's useful for others. Hello! I've got a genuine question, although I'm ...
MikeTheTall's user avatar
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Is there any generic motivation for building scales which are supersets of the desired key(s)?

In conventional music, the octave is divided into the twelve frequency Chromatic Scale, but then only subsets of those twelve frequencies form the key used at any given time. I understand why the ...
user10478's user avatar
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How can I translate a song originally written for 5 octaves to be playable with only 3 octaves while still sounding good?

I'm working on a script to translate midifiles into button presses in a game (scum) where I can play an instrument. However, the game only allows me to play with 3 octaves. As someone with no ...
MusicNoob's user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
539 views

Pitch and Hearing beginner question

I'm a total newbie. And I'll pretend there are no black notes so it is easier for me to explain. CDEFGABḈḊ (where Ḉ and Ḋ are one octave above C and D) When a Musician says, "oh, C and Ḉ are the ...
Dilshan's user avatar
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5 votes
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Do difference in octaves matter for the intervals?

Should I account difference in octaves between different guitar strings, like between 5th (octave A2) string and 4th string (octave D3), when I'm looking for intervals (for example perfect 4th) ? I ...
oyevtushe's user avatar
6 votes
5 answers
593 views

What determines a Note?

In the context of guitar for example: if I press down on string 6 fret 3 and play that string, that note is a G. if I play the open string 3 that note is a G if I press down on string 1 fret 3 and ...
Dante's user avatar
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12 votes
1 answer
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Why don't two Boomwhackers with a one-octave pitch difference have a 2:1 length ratio?

I frequently use the tuned percussion tubes Boomwhackers in my elementary music teaching. I noticed something odd about them. When I compare the smaller and larger C tubes, they sound one octave ...
nuggethead's user avatar
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The relation between making a note from "pitch & duration" and "name & octave"

This question might need some computer science information as well, but I'm stuck in the music theory side of it: I'm trying to use a library in Python (the programming language) called Mingus that ...
Arash Ashrafzadeh's user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
225 views

Efficient ways to octave down notes that exceed range?

Often, I'll come across music with notes that exceed my range. Typically, I will just octave the phrase down, and that usually sounds fine. Recently, I've come across a run, in which if I were to ...
violetorigin's user avatar
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2 answers
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how are scales of the same class (e.g. major scales) musically different? [duplicate]

I have recently learned the principles of the standard twelve-tone octave applied to major and minor scales. I understand each scale is defined by its main note, and the pattern of intervals, of half ...
brainchild's user avatar
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How many notes are in an octave in Indian classical music? Is it 7, 12, or 22?

What is the logic behind dividing an octave into 22 notes?
Sadhana's user avatar
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In flute technique, is it common to use the throat to change octaves?

I am a beginning flute player with a background in harmonica playing. For those unfamiliar, it is possible to play a diatonic harmonica chromatically by adjusting the shape of your mouth and throat. ...
Andrew Wagner's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
197 views

Are the higher octave notes required in the chords for Hilda's theme song?

I'm trying to teach myself the theme song for the Netflix original show, Hilda: With that, I used Chordify to confirm and deny my suspicions for the chords involved: ...
Hazel へいぜる's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
405 views

Determine Octave Number given Only Key Num [duplicate]

I have recently been searching for a formula to determine the octave a note is in, given the number of that key on the piano. For example, given the key #77 (C7# for reference), how could I ...
Finn_Lancaster's user avatar
2 votes
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Effect of octave on consonance [duplicate]

Was playing around on a keyboard (Casio WK-245, default St.GrPno tone) and I'm noticing that the same chord moved up an octave feels quite different. When I play Cmaj7(no inversions: C,E,G,B in that ...
David Lalo's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
465 views

8 below note played as octave or singular note?

I'm working on the piano solo version of Rhapsody in Blue, and I'm unsure - when there is an 8 underneath this E, is it meant to be played as just the lower E, or as a full octave (as in the measure ...
Theo's user avatar
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Fretboard map - Notes and octaves

I'm currently developing a music player that displays the tab from a midi file similarly to guitar hero. This for mandolin. The midi parsed file out is something like this "notes": [ ...
Fer Toasted's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
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How to print notehead with actual notevalues and octaves in lilypond

I need the note heads to be printed in notes with octave. The below code in lilypond prints C, D, E, F, G, A, B in notehead: \version "2.20.1" { \easyHeadsOn \clef treble <c d e f g a ...
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On piano how do I play one note, and the same note an octave higher with one hand?

I have been playing piano for a few months now, and I have come to a roadblock, in this one song I play CDEFG C on octave 4, while I do the same on octave 5. All of this is with one hand, I have been ...
Knights Dagger's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
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The theory of song by deadmau5 ft. Rob Swire - Ghosts 'n' Stuff

I've wondered about the theory concerning a number of specific songs containing octave harmony - but one song in particular raises an interesting question. What exactly is happening in the chorus of ...
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5 votes
1 answer
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How is this octave jump achieved on electric guitar?

I am transferring from classical guitar to electric. I am familiar with everything except the huge variety of effects that are available for electric. I often hear guitarists performing an instant ...
chasly - supports Monica's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
554 views

How to reprogram a piano for higher octave

I have a Casio SA-77 piano with limited keys. I want to reprogram a button to increase my octave when I press it. Is it possible? If yes, then how?
Swayam joshi's user avatar
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2 answers
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Why do frequencies that follow a base two logarithmic relationship sound the "same"? [duplicate]

We know that frequencies that follow a base two logarithmic relationship sound as the same tone. This seems to be one of the fundamental principles that underlies music theory. For example, ...
Alex's user avatar
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11 votes
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Was the term "octave" coined after the development of early music theory?

I have some confusion as to the use and history of the word octave in the context of music and tuning systems. The (western) tuning system comes from the Pythagorean division of the octave, based on ...
hirschme's user avatar
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How to change octaves on Yamaha E363

I have read the documentation but it doesn't explain how to transpose or change the octave setting or else it is not implementing my changes. Function > Transpose > Adjust -/+ keys but they LED ...
Zoey's user avatar
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2 answers
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What to call triads made up of first and third note on octaves and second note in middle of them?

We often find them in a classical musical.
Siddharth's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
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How do you play far-away notes?

I've been learning a new song and it has a part where I need to play two notes an octave away. I can just about reach it if I use my thumb and middle finger, but it's close and my middle finger keeps ...
The Nuckster's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
623 views

Chords available in a certain Key?

I am a total beginner here so please bear with me. When you have a certain key, let's take C, we have C D E F G A B C Looking at the wheel of fifths, my available chords are F C G major D A E ...
Brian M's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
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What are these octave like shapes used in popular indie rock?

I've got 2 octave(?) related questions. One about starting on the A string and one about starting on the E string. Regarding the A string: there's a specific part of a Strokes song called "Reptilia". ...
Chris S's user avatar
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What is the best fingering for these 3 jumpy octave bars?

I'm not sure how to do the fingering for this? The first 4 notes per bar are especially challenging. I've tried 5,5,1,51 and 5,1,5,51 but none of it feels really good :( I'm learning on my own so I ...
Simply's user avatar
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1 vote
3 answers
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Question from Exercsies in Melody (Percy Goetschius)

I've been studying said book for learning melody writing and I find it to be very methodical. It is completely free to download for anyone interested (google). I found a line I can't seem to ...
CuriousSam's user avatar
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1 answer
513 views

Why were the frequencies for notes chosen?

I understand that the first note of each octave is twice the frequency of the first note from the octave before, but how are the frequencies for each note chosen subsequently after that. So far, I’ve ...
YoungCapone's user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
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Can people can tell exactly in which octave a note is played?

I have done some pitch recognition tests. No note was given, and between questions a very chatty piece of music was placed to erase your mind. I got a 4/20 and for the rest I was off up or down a ...
edd's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
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run two usb midi controllers on same time?

I have no experience with midi but i have two devices (alesis v49 and akai pro mpk25) in total 74 key so is it possible to combine these to two midi work as one device to cover most of piano key ?
Azotx's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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Broken octaves help

Lately I’ve been having a real problem with broken octaves. I’ve noticed this after playing rondo alla turca and gewitter (thunderstorm), an AMEB grade 4 exam piece from the series 16 book. Whenever I ...
Luyee Bai's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
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Is there a way to notate octaves for chords?

Say I wanted someone to play a C major triad in the 4th octave at one point in a song I've written, while I wanted them to play the same chord (a C major triad) in the 5th octave instead of the 4th at ...
Gavinjon's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
4k views

How do I actually play higher octaves in flute? [duplicate]

Flute newbie here. I'm learning to read notes and play them on the flute (Western concert flute, closed buttons). I find many sources for fingerings of the notes in different octaves. Sometimes they ...
Kenyakorn Ketsombut's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
544 views

Are these Bansuri Notes all on the Low Octave (to me they are on Low and Middle)

As a newbie I am trying to play these notes of O RE PIYA http://sargamnote.blogspot.com/ To my ear, all the notes belong in the Low and Middle Octave of this beginner Bansuri Fingering Chart (as ...
Marium's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
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Should I raise this chord up an octave?

Okay, I asked somebody else for advice on my orchestration and he went a bit into lower interval limits. He did however give me advice on orchestration for the first chord. Here is what he gave me: ...
Caters's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
297 views

Should I learn the Octave Etude to prepare for the Appasionata Sonata?

One of the hardest Beethoven sonatas is his Appasionata Sonata. There is one technique that I know it has in common with Chopin's Octave Etude. That is legato octaves. Difference has to do with ...
Caters's user avatar
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11 votes
4 answers
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Does octave not matter when tuning?

Why does it not matter what octave you're tuning to? If you wind a string to two different octaves of the same note, surely it's going to have a big effect on the sound, no?
コナーゲティ's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
14k views

How many octaves can be heard?

How many octaves exist the the human range of hearing? Will the same note through all the octaves harmonize? Related: What is the maximum number of distinct notes that can be played in a chord?
Muze's user avatar
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-1 votes
2 answers
173 views

How to understand the keyboard of a piano (or any such instrument)? [closed]

I would like to ask about something like theoretical foundations or fundamentals of an 88 piano keyboard. My thinking is a) there is a range of pitch a human can hear (lets assume that there is no ...
user56178's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
1k views

Super fast scales and octaves, How?

I looked at the sheet music for a piano transcription of The Four Seasons and I see in the third movement of Summer, 2 things that I don't know if I can do. It has partly to do with the Presto tempo ...
Caters's user avatar
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20 votes
7 answers
3k views

Speed of playing notes in different octaves

Is it common for pieces to have lower notes played slower? Do instruments with lower registers typically play slower? I ask because notes in lower octaves are closer together in frequency. For ...
thaimin's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
686 views

Octaves don't sound like the same notes [duplicate]

I keep reading how two notes an octave apart sound like the same notes. I understand that theres a doubling of the frequency, so theres no real beats. But one sounds like a significantly higher tone, ...
mike628's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
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How to alter piano music with left-hand octaves to require a smaller span?

I'm learning to play the piano and I'm loving it. I've just started learning to play some pieces with two hands, but I am unfortunately running into an issue with my left hand: I cannot spread my ...
Belle's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
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Octave in a triplet? How would I do that?

I am learning the left hand of Blumenlied by Gustav Lange and I notice something very tricky in the left hand. An octave starting a triplet. Here is how I have been playing that rhythm in the F major ...
Caters's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
636 views

Tense and painful to pop 5th finger, why?

I started practicing the Lizst transcription of Beethoven's 5th symphony today and it is harder than it looks. Some chords I just have to arppegiate because my hands aren't big enough to play it as ...
Caters's user avatar
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14 votes
4 answers
16k views

Musical systems with more than 12 notes

From what I remember of music theory, all music (at least Western music) boils down to scales that revolve around the 12 notes (circle of fourths/fifths). I know there are scales in different regions ...
Lance's user avatar
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