Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
octave
noun
/ˈɒk.teɪv/
Definition
An octave is a musical interval that spans eight notes in a scale.
Examples
- The interval between C and the next C is an octave.
- She played the melody an octave higher to brighten the sound.
- In a piano, an octave consists of 12 keys, including both the white and black keys.
Meaning
In music, an octave refers to the distance between one note and another note that is eight steps higher or lower. It represents a doubling or halving of frequency, meaning that an octave higher sounds ‘higher’ than the original tone, but still shares the same note name.
Synonyms
- Interval
- Eighth
