Four-line

Four-line

[Eng.]

Under the Helmholtz Octave Designation System, a name applied to the octave which extends from C⁴ in the second octave above the treble clef staff to B⁴ in the third octave above the treble clef staff. The notes are indicated by lowercase letters with the superscript "4" (c⁴, d⁴, e⁴, f⁴, g⁴, a⁴, and b⁴).

This octave can also be designated with four hash marks (i.e. C'''') or in the 7th octave under Acoustical Society of America system (i.e. C₇). The MIDI Octave Designation System has two versions, one where note 1 (8.176 Hz) is octave "0" making the Four-line octave the eighth octave (i.e. C8), and the other with note 1 (8.176 Hz) at octave "-1" making the Four-line octave the sixth octave (i.e. C6).

The indications 8va and 15ma (shown below) can be used to represent the same pitches without as many ledger lines. The indication 15ma is rarely used today.

Play Four-line Octave Example (MIDI file format)

More about octave designations; More about pitch

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