Ottava (8)
A plain 8 begins an octave line. Above the staff it raises the covered notes one octave; below it lowers them, so the numeral alone is incomplete without placement and extent.
- Octave signs
- Above the staff
- Numbers
Do not confuse it with
A small 8 attached to a clef changes that clef's register; an octave line applies only across its drawn span.
What the sources say
- SMuFL — Octaves
8 (ottava) ... may be used to indicate the raising or lowering of pitch by one ... octave
- Octave lines
The line may be dotted or solid.
- Music Glossary — Octave mark
The phrase, abbreviation, or other mark used (with or without an extender line or bracket) to indicate that the music is to be played in a different octave