Five-line

DEFINITION

Under the Helmholtz Octave Designation System, a name applied to the octave which extends from C 5 in the third octave above the treble clef staff to B 5 in the fourth octave above the treble clef staff. The notes are indicated by lowercase letters with the superscript "5" ( c5, d 5, e 5, f 5, g 5, a 5, and b 5). This octave can also be designated with five hash marks (i.e. C''''' ) or in the 8th octave under Acoustical Society of America system (i.e. C 8). The MIDI Octave Designation System has two versions, one where note 1 (8.176 Hz) is octave "0" making the Five-line octave the ninth octave (i.e. C9), and the other with note 1 (8.176 Hz) at octave "-2" making the Five-line octave the seventh octave (i.e. C7). 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.