 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Eoin
Date: 1999-10-26 10:13
I've seen a reference to the "USA Standard" method of numbering octaves. In this, the eight C's on a piano are C1 to C8 and middle C is C4. Does anyone know about this system? At what point do the octaves change? Is the note below C4 called B3? Or is the note below A4 called G#3? Also, what are the names for the octaves below 0? Is there a C-1?
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Author: Tracy
Date: 1999-10-27 02:17
I can't put it on here for you but you have the right idea. All of this should be explained in any theory book. I ahev Elementary Harmony by Robert Ottman. I know it is explained in there. Sorry I can't scan it for you though
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Author: Eoin
Date: 1999-10-27 07:22
The only theory books I have use the Helmholtz octave numbering method, which I find confusing. In this method, the C's have names C1, C, c, ci, cii, ciii, ciiii and cv. Is there anybody from the USA on this forum who might be able to answer this:
What is the note below C4 called?
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Author: Arnold the basset hornist
Date: 1999-10-27 12:45
Well, I'm not from the US and I'm not used to american method you mentioned but the following should be true for all octave numbering methods:
One octave which is numbered reaches from C up to the next B, not watching the alternations, just watching the lines they're written on the stuff. Thus C-flat is enharmonic equal to B-natural of the next lower octave.
As I understood your first post, the american method counts upward, so B3 is one semitone below C4, which of course is two semitones below D4 (and so on).
I'm trying to confuse you now: C4-flat is one semitone below B3-sharp.
In Germany usual is a numbering like Helmholtz:
Lowest tone of the piano: <sub>2</sub>A
Next octave reaches from <sub>1</sub>C to <sub>1</sub>B (while <b>B</b> is called <b>H</b> in Germany)
Next octave reaches from C to B (notice: capital letters until here)
Next octave reaches form c to b (notice: no capital letters now), sometimes written as c<sup>0</sup> to b<sup>0</sup>, too)
Next octave reaches from c' to b' (one string is written past the letter, sometime written with numbers like c<sup>1</sup> to b<sup>1</sup>, too) - c' is the middle C, the one on the first auxillary line below the stuff in treble clef, or on the middle line of the stuff when written in alto clef (for the violas)
Next octave is written with two strings, e. g. c'' to b'' resp. c<sup>2</sup> to b<sup>2</sup>
<i>and so on</i>
the next but one octave has so manny lines, most prefer to write c<sup>4</sup> to b<sup>4</sup> instead of c'''' to b''''
I hope, this helped,
Arnold, the basset hornist
P.S. lowest tone of the basset horn sounds F, is notated as c (resp. c<sup>0</sup>) in treble clef, but C when notated using the bass clef.
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Author: Justice
Date: 1999-10-27 21:47
I am from the US and I do use the new octave numbering system.
On the grand piano, middle C is C4, an octave above that is C5 (this is the one at the third space on the trebble clef). The note below C4 is B3. C3 in one octave below C4. the numbers go up and down in that oerder. the bottom three note of a full piano keyboard are just A, Ab and B. The C above this is C1. The System goes all the way up to C8 at the top of the Keyboard.
Really, its a pretty simple and consise system. Rather than having weird designations like C, c, CC, C1, Ci, etc...
Justice
the Altissimo Freak
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Author: Eoin
Date: 1999-10-28 08:01
Thanks, Justice! It does sound a very sensible system and I'll use it in future. What a pity that the lowest octave of all (the bottom three notes on the piano) doesn't get an octave number.
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