Which symbol indicates that the written note should be played a different octave from written?

Which symbol indicates that the written note should be played a different octave from written?

• A. Mordent
• B. Opus
• C. Marcato
• D. Octave sign

Answer: (D)

An octave sign tells you to shift the pitch by one octave from what’s written. When you see 8va (ottava) above the staff, play the notes one octave higher; 8vb below the staff means one octave lower. The line or brackets show how long the octave change lasts. This helps manage the range of the music or create a particular texture. Mordent is an ornament involving a quick alternation with a neighbor note, not a pitch change in the written note. Opus is simply a catalog number for a piece, not a performance symbol. Marcato is an accent indicating a stronger, more forceful attack. So the symbol that indicates an octave shift is the octave sign.

An octave sign tells you to shift the pitch by one octave from what’s written. When you see 8va (ottava) above the staff, play the notes one octave higher; 8vb below the staff means one octave lower. The line or brackets show how long the octave change lasts. This helps manage the range of the music or create a particular texture.

Mordent is an ornament involving a quick alternation with a neighbor note, not a pitch change in the written note. Opus is simply a catalog number for a piece, not a performance symbol. Marcato is an accent indicating a stronger, more forceful attack. So the symbol that indicates an octave shift is the octave sign.