Octave

Definition

An octave is an interval between one musical pitch and another with double its frequency. In Western music, it spans eight notes in a standard scale.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. An octave contains twelve semitones in the chromatic scale.
2. The concept of an octave is fundamental to the structure of scales and chords.
3. An octave in scientific terms means doubling or halving the frequency of a note.
4. In a piano, each octave consists of seven white keys and five black keys.
5. Octaves provide harmonic consonance and are often used to build complex musical compositions.

Review Questions

• How many semitones are there in an octave?
• What happens to the frequency of a note when you move up one octave?
• Why are octaves important in musical composition?

Related terms

Semitone: A semitone is the smallest musical interval commonly used in Western music, equal to one-twelfth of an octave.

Frequency:

Frequency refers to the number of vibrations per second of a musical note, measured in Hertz (Hz).

Scale:

A scale is a sequence of musical notes ordered by pitch, typically within an octave.