What is 8va?

[EADG mx]

When using 8va, 8vb, 15ma, and 15vb, you must ignore the fact that bass is written an octave higher. The only reason it is written an octave higher is to make it easier to read; I don't know if you've ever read tuba music but some of it is just ridiculously low below the staff.

 

[lemur821]

Writing "8va" or "8vb" is totally different to the little 8 dangling from the clef. The first ones are octave transposition marks which tell the player that he/she should play not the written notes, but an octave above or below, depending on the mark. The 8 below the clef is just a reminder about the fact that every note written in that staff is actually sounding one octave lower (which is the case for guitar, bass guitar and double bass). The player shouldn't play any different than he/she understands by direct reading. BTW (I think this has been said in a previous post) guitar, bass guitar and double bass should have the little 8 below the clef. I don't know why it is not used (maybe it is, but don't remember having seen it before). The only case I've seen it used (and very strictly) is in tenor (voice) sheets, which are mostly in treble clef, but the male voice sounds one octave lower than written in this clef.

I don't see how it's different. The little 8 method is attached to a clef, and the 8va marking isn't, but they mean the same thing don't they? Regardless, in the situation that Hookus mentioned, the litte 8 would indeed be the correct marking, although lazy typesetters often leave it out.

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

I don't see how it's different. The little 8 method is attached to a clef, and the 8va marking isn't, but they mean the same thing don't they? Regardless, in the situation that Hookus mentioned, the litte 8 would indeed be the correct marking, although lazy typesetters often leave it out.

Let's say you have a bass chart and there's a G on the fourth space. This means you should play the open G string, or the D string on the 5th fret, or the A string on the 10th fret, or the E string on the 15th fret. The written note is called G3, But what you hear is the G one octave lower, called G2. Now, if you have exactly the same bass chart but you add an 8vb mark, you must play the G on the E string, 3rd fret. The written note is still G3, but now, with the added 8vb mark plus the fact that the bass is a transpositional instrument which sounds one octave lower than written, the actual pitch now is G1 (two octaves lower than written). Hope this isn't confusing at all (let me know).

 

[lemur821]

Let's say you have a bass chart and there's a G on the fourth space. This means you should play the open G string, or the D string on the 5th fret, or the A string on the 10th fret, or the E string on the 15th fret. The written note is called G3, But what you hear is the G one octave lower, called G2. Now, if you have exactly the same bass chart but you add an 8vb mark, you must play the G on the E string, 3rd fret. The written note is still G3, but now, with the added 8vb mark plus the fact that the bass is a transpositional instrument which sounds one octave lower than written, the actual pitch now is G1 (two octaves lower than written). Hope this isn't confusing at all (let me know).

Right, the clef and the 8vb marking "stack", you might say, to produce a two octave transpositon.

I think our disagreement is that I don't consider a little 8 on the clef to be just a reminder, like writing in accidentals when they're part of the key you're in is. I think that while it's often left out and we just play as if it were there (like if somebody forgot to put 4/4 at the top you could guess it), it's not just a reminder.

You're stating your points clearly, but I'm confused because I'm not sure what we're arguing about. I just don't understand why you say that a little 8 and an 8vb are totally different. I'd say they're slightly different, since one affects the meaning of the clef and the other only a group of notes, but they mean the same thing: Play it an octave lower(/higher) than you normally would.

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

You're stating your points clearly, but I'm confused because I'm not sure what we're arguing about. I just don't understand why you say that a little 8 and an 8vb are totally different. I'd say they're slightly different, since one affects the meaning of the clef and the other only a group of notes, but they mean the same thing: Play it an octave lower(/higher) than you normally would.

OK. Got your point and agree.

 

[lemur821]

OK. Got your point and agree.

Okay. I thought we seemed to be on the same page somehow.