oc
tave
Plural
octaves
1
the interval between the first and the last notes in eight diatonic degrees
An octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another pitch that is either double or half its frequency. In simple terms, it is the distance between two notes with the same name but at different pitches. For example, if you play a C note, the next C note higher or lower is an octave away. The sound of these notes is perceived as very similar, though one is higher or lower than the other. Octaves are fundamental in music for creating harmony and structure, and they help in organizing the musical scale.
- The pianist played a scale that spanned a full octave.
- He tuned his guitar to ensure each string was in the correct octave.
- The song's bridge included a challenging octave jump for the lead vocalist.
- The choir's harmonies were rich with voices blending across different octaves.
- The singer's range extended over three octaves, impressing the judges.
Synonyms:
2
a feast day and the seven days following it
3
a rhythmic group of eight lines of verse