Seventh octave

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The seventh octave is the last octave at the top of a piano.

Using middle C (C4) as a guide, the next higher C is C5 or tenor C. The next C is C6 or soprano high C. The next C, C7 or double high C, is again one octave higher. C7 is eight notes away from the last note on the 88-key piano: C8. C7 is also the highest note on most musical keyboards. The seventh octave is the range of notes between C7 and C8. Only a small percentage of coloratura sopranos are capable of singing in this octave. While notes in the sixth octave, between soprano high C and C7, can have enough color to sound flutey or canary-like (which give the flageolet register its name), the squeaky, whistly tones in the seventh octave help give the whistle register its name.

The piercing qualities of notes in this octave also help give the whistle register its name. Examples of pop singers capable of this vocal altitude in performance are Mariah Carey, Minnie Riperton, Tanya Blount, Kristin Chenoweth, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Mihai Trăistariu, Sebastian Vilas and Adam Lopez. Examples of classical singers capable of this range include Joan Sutherland, Mado Robin, Erna Sack, Yma Sumac and Natalie Dessay.