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Octaves and Middle C
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Because letter names repeat every octave, we need a way to tell C4 apart from C5. The octave number does that — it increases by one each time you pass the next C going up.
Middle C — the C nearest the middle of a piano keyboard, and a common reference point in notation — is written C4.
⚠️ Common mistake
It's natural to assume the octave number changes at A, since the alphabet "starts" there. It actually changes at C — so B3 is followed by C4, not B4 by C5.
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📝 Summary
Octave numbers increase at C, not at A. C4 ("middle C") is a common reference point.
This lesson is a concept primer — no dedicated practice exercises yet.
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