Great octave
The great octave covers the notes C2 to B2, written in the older German system with capital letters. It is a low register, lies below the small octave and is usually notated in the bass clef. The two lowest guitar strings sound in it.
- Range
- C2 to B2
- Older notation
- capital letters: C, D, E …
- Above it
- Small octave
- Register
- low, usually in the bass clef
- Scientific
- C2 to B2
Capital letters for low notes
The page Reading music numbers the octave registers (C3, C4, C5). In the older German system the great octave is written with capital letters (C, D, E …) and counted as the low register; above it follow the small and the one-line octave. In the scientific system it is simply the second octave, C2 to B2. According to the symbol library low voices are notated in the bass clef, because otherwise too many ledger lines would be needed below the treble clef.
The great octave
From C2 to B2. E and A are marked: these are the notes of the open sixth and fifth guitar strings, which sound in this register.
Low guitar strings
The page Tools gives the frequencies of the open strings: 82.41 Hz for the low sixth string and 110.00 Hz for the A string. The page A minor adds: the open A string is A2 and lies two octaves below the standard pitch A4 at 440 Hz. The low E at 82.41 Hz likewise lies in the great octave.
Sound and notation
Here too: guitar music is mostly written without the small 8 and sounds an octave lower than notated. Anyone who wants to work out the octave register from the sound has to allow for that. The tuner on the page Tools also shows the displayed frequency, a more reliable check than the letter: an E in the wrong octave is still an E to the device.
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Related terms
Small octaveOne-line octaveOctaveClefStandard pitchA minor
Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026
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