MusicXML 4.1 Draft
MusicXML 4.1 Draft > MusicXML Reference > Elements > The <octave-shift> element

The <octave-shift> element

Parent element: <direction-type>

octave-shift

The <octave-shift> element indicates where notes are shifted up or down from their performed values because of printing difficulty. Thus a treble clef line noted with 8va will be indicated with an <octave-shift> down from the pitch data indicated in the notes.

Content

Always empty.

Attributes

Name Type Required?(Default) Description
type up-down-stop-continue Yes Indicates if this is the start, stop, or continuation of the octave shift. The start is specified as a shift up or down from their performed values.
Indicates if this is the start, stop, or continuation of the octave shift. The start is specified as a shift up or down from their performed values.
color color No Indicates the color of an element.
Indicates the color of an element.
dash-length tenths No The length of dashes in a dashed line. Ignored if the corresponding line-type attribute is not dashed.
The length of dashes in a dashed line. Ignored if the corresponding line-type attribute is not dashed.
default-x tenths No Changes the computation of the default horizontal position. The origin is changed relative to the left-hand side of the note or the musical position within the bar. Positive x is right and negative x is left.

This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the <offset> element. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both features should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
Changes the computation of the default horizontal position. The origin is changed relative to the left-hand side of the note or the musical position within the bar. Positive x is right and negative x is left.

This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the <offset> element. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both features should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
default-y tenths No Changes the computation of the default vertical position. The origin is changed relative to the top line of the staff. Positive y is up and negative y is down.

This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the placement attribute. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both attributes should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
Changes the computation of the default vertical position. The origin is changed relative to the top line of the staff. Positive y is up and negative y is down.

This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the placement attribute. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both attributes should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
font-family font-family No A comma-separated list of font names.
A comma-separated list of font names.
font-size font-size No One of the CSS sizes or a numeric point size.
One of the CSS sizes or a numeric point size.
font-style font-style No Normal or italic style.
Normal or italic style.
font-weight font-weight No Normal or bold weight.
Normal or bold weight.
id xs:ID No Specifies an ID that is unique to the entire document.
Specifies an ID that is unique to the entire document.
number number-level No Distinguishes multiple octave shifts when they overlap in MusicXML document order.
Distinguishes multiple octave shifts when they overlap in MusicXML document order.
relative-x tenths No Changes the horizontal position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-x attribute. Positive x is right and negative x is left. It should be interpreted in the context of the <offset> element or directive attribute if those are present.
Changes the horizontal position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-x attribute. Positive x is right and negative x is left. It should be interpreted in the context of the <offset> element or directive attribute if those are present.
relative-y tenths No Changes the vertical position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-y attribute. Positive y is up and negative y is down. It should be interpreted in the context of the placement attribute if that is present.
Changes the vertical position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-y attribute. Positive y is up and negative y is down. It should be interpreted in the context of the placement attribute if that is present.
size xs:positiveInteger No (8) 8 indicates one octave; 15 indicates two octaves; 22 indicates 3 octaves. The default value is 8.
8 indicates one octave; 15 indicates two octaves; 22 indicates 3 octaves. The default value is 8.
space-length tenths No The length of spaces in a dashed line. Ignored if the corresponding line-type attribute is not dashed.
The length of spaces in a dashed line. Ignored if the corresponding line-type attribute is not dashed.

Examples

This element is used in the following example:

<octave-shift>