User manual

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Octave lines

Octave lines indicate where notes are played higher/lower than they appear in the score or

part. They are dashed or dotted horizontal lines with an italic numeral at the start. The numeral

indicates the number of pitches by which the phrase is changed, such as 8 for one octave and 15

for two octaves.

Octave lines that indicate notes are played higher than notated are placed above the staff, while

octave lines that indicate notes are played lower than notated are placed below the staff.

A treble clef phrase notated at

pitch

The treble clef phrase with an

octave above line

The treble clef phrase with a two

octaves above line

A bass clef phrase notated at pitch The bass clef phrase with an

octave below line

The bass clef phrase with a two

octaves below line

In Dorico Elements, pitches are adjusted automatically when an octave line is present. You do not

have to change the register of the notes within octave lines.

Octave lines should be horizontal, meaning they can take up signicant vertical space, as octave

lines are usually placed outside all other notations. However, they can be placed within slurs and

tuplet brackets if the slur or tuplet bracket is longer than the octave line.

Octave lines can continue across system and page breaks. It is customary to show the numeral

again at the start of each system as a reminder. Cautionary octave line numerals are usually

parenthesized and the

sux is optional.