Reading musical notes by clef

The clef at the beginning of the staff indicates which note corresponds to each line and space. Learn to read notes in the different clefs: treble clef, bass clef, alto clef, and tenor clef.

Although music is universal, there are different clefs for reading notes. The clef placed at the beginning of each staff indicates how the notes should be read. As shown below, the note on the 4th space is read C in treble clef, E in bass clef, D in alto clef, and B in tenor clef.

1. Reading in treble clef

The treble clef is one of the most commonly used clefs. It is recognizable by its shape resembling a « g » (the letter g corresponding to the note G) and is placed on the second line of the staff. The note associated with that line is G. The treble clef is used for many melodic instruments, such as piano, violin, guitar, and flute. It is ideal for melodies that lie mainly in the high register.

2. Reading in bass clef

The bass clef looks like a stylized « f » and is placed on the fourth line of the staff. The note associated with that line is F. The bass clef is commonly used for low instruments, such as double bass, cello, and trombone. It is also used for the left hand of the piano when it plays bass parts.

3. Reading in alto clef (C clef on 3rd line)

The C clef looks like a stylized « c » and is placed on the third line of the staff (the letter c corresponding to the note C). The note associated with that line is C. The C clef is less common than the treble or bass clef. It is also called the alto clef, because it was the clef used for the alto voice in the classical vocal quartet. The viola, a string instrument and cousin of the violin, reads in alto clef (C clef on the 3rd line).

4. Reading in tenor clef (C clef on 4th line)

The C clef on the fourth line, also called tenor clef, is used for instruments that read in a medium-high range in this clef, such as the high register of the cello, bassoon, or trombone. It indicates that the note C is on the fourth line, allowing musicians to read parts suited to their range.

5. The percussion clef

The percussion clef, also called the neutral or drum clef, is used for notating percussion instruments. It does not assign lines and spaces to specific pitches, but rather uses symbols and specific indications for each percussion instrument.