P8

Perfect · 12 semitones

Octave

Twelve semitones — the same note in a higher or lower register. Perfectly consonant, stable, and complete.

perfect12 semitonesP8

How to Hear It

How to Identify It

The same note, just higher. Completely resolved and stable. Think of Somewhere Over the Rainbow — the opening leap (Some-WHERE) is an octave.

Famous Examples

  • Somewhere Over the Rainbow — opening leap (Some-WHERE)
  • Singin' in the Rain — opening vocal leap
  • The Christmas Song — 'Chest-NUTS' opening leap
Ready to test your ear?The recognition trainer plays random intervals — identify them by ear with instant feedback.
Open Trainer →

Often Confused With

M7
Major 7th11 semitones
P1
Unison0 semitones
P4
Perfect 4th5 semitones
P5
Perfect 5th7 semitones

All Intervals

P1Unison0stm2Minor 2nd1stM2Major 2nd2stm3Minor 3rd3stM3Major 3rd4stP4Perfect 4th5stTTTritone6stP5Perfect 5th7stm6Minor 6th8stM6Major 6th9stm7Minor 7th10stM7Major 7th11stP8Octave12stm9Minor 9th13stM9Major 9th14st

About the Octave

The Octave (P8) is a perfect interval spanning 12 semitones. Twelve semitones — the same note in a higher or lower register. Perfectly consonant, stable, and complete.

To train your ear to identify the octave reliably, practice hearing it in all three modes — ascending, descending, and harmonic. The ascending version is most commonly tested, but recognising it in all contexts is the mark of a trained ear. Use the trainer above to test yourself in a mixed set of all intervals.