Music Reading 101Clefs and Note Names

The Music Alphabet:

It can repeat itself over and over, starting on any letter.

A B C D E F G

The Staff

5 lines, 4 spaces

What note is this?

A clef tells the musician what notes are on each of the lines and

spaces.

It looks like it comes from a fancy G.

G clef, or “treble clef” tells us where G is.

The treble clef circles around the second line. That line is G.

A note on the second line is called G.

G

You can figure out the notes in either direction based on the order of the musical alphabet.

G A B C D E F

If the notes move down, move backwards in the musical alphabet.

GDEF

F clef, or “bass clef” tells us where F is. Bass clef notes are lower than treble clef notes.

The bass clef’s dots are around the fourth line. That line is F.

A note on the fourth line is called F.

F

Just like with treble clef, you can figure out the notes in either direction based on the order of the musical alphabet.

CEF D C

Grand Staff

When both clefs are together, it is called the grand staff. This is how most of our music is presented.

Higher notes (treble) –

soprano and alto

Bass notes (lower) -

tenor and bass