Octave (8va) Signs

Octave (8va) Signs

Table of Contents

Type
Size
When to Use
Placement
Kallisti Press Tips

TYPE

Always in italic type.



SIZE

  • The "8" is approx. 1.5 spaces (27 EVPU's) high, and the "va" is approx. half that height.
  • The "va" can be a horizontally aligned with either the top or the bottom of the "8".



    WHEN TO USE

  • Use the "8va" sign only with the treble staff. For the bass staff, use "8va bassa".

  • To make sure the cancellation of the octave sign is clear, the word "loco" ( "at the written pitch") is often used after the "8va" or "8va bassa" passage, using the same type as the "8va" sign. It can be written with or withot parentheses.

  • To indicate a 2-octave transposition, use the abbreviation "15ma" ("quindicesima"), and treat it in the same way as an "8va" sign.



    PLACEMENT

  • The "8va" sign is always placed above the staff, written above the first note it affects. It is followed by a dotted line, or just dots, and ends in a short downward line above the last note the sign affects.

  • The "8va bassa" sign is always placed below the staff, written below the first note it affects. It is followed by a dotted line, or just dots, and ends in a short upward line above the last note the sign affects.



    KALLISTI PRESS TIPS

    For centered 8va signs: (Measurements in EVPU's)

    1. 8va BD above 36, 0 0 0 0 [NOTE: downstem notes only]
    2. 8vb BD below 56, 0 0 0 0 [NOTE: for anything exc. whole notes]
    3. 8vb BD below 84, 0 0 0 0 [for whole notes]

      Compliments of Andrew Stiller and Kallisti Music Press



    [ Main Page ] * [ Conventions ] * [ Bibliography ] * [ Related Links ]