Which symbol indicates that the written note should be played a different octave from written?

• A. Mordent
• B. Opus
• C. Marcato
• D. Octave sign

Answer: (D)

An octave sign tells you to shift the pitch by one octave from what’s written. When you see 8va (ottava) above the staff, play the notes one octave higher; 8vb below the staff means one octave lower. The line or brackets show how long the octave change lasts. This helps manage the range of the music or create a particular texture.

Mordent is an ornament involving a quick alternation with a neighbor note, not a pitch change in the written note. Opus is simply a catalog number for a piece, not a performance symbol. Marcato is an accent indicating a stronger, more forceful attack. So the symbol that indicates an octave shift is the octave sign.