Musical notes ranges

The Grand Staff - music for piano is written on the grand staff, which is actually two staves joined together.

The Octave Sign Sometimes a composer or arranger intends for a passage to be played an octave higher than the notes shown on the staff. In treble clef, these passages are marked by an octave sign (a dotted line with 8va, 8, or 8ve) above the staff.

When an octave sign appears below the staff, the indicated passage should be played an octave lower than written. This inverted octave sign is only used to mark passages in bass clef