Reading Music Page 1 of 3

The Treble Clef is employed to notate traditional tunes because its range covers the range of the instruments used. The other common clef is the bass clef; this may be found in the notation of accompaniment:

The letters A,B,C,D,E,F,G, are used to name the notes. These notes are written on a staff, which is made up of five lines and four spaces:

How they are organised on the staff is determined by the clef used; since we will be concentrating on the ‘Treble Clef’, we will look at how the notes are written-in ascending order- in that clef:

The first line, E, symbolises the E above middle C on the piano. The last space, which is also E is an octave (eight notes) above. So, though these notes have the same name, they have a different ‘pitch’ (ie how high or low a note sounds)./p>

It is useful to learn the names of the lines and spaces. E, G, B, D and F. Usually a phrase is used, for example; Every Good Boy Deserves Fun.

The names of the spaces are F A C and E. This is convenient because it spells the word ‘face’.

When notes which aren’t expressed on the staff are required we employ ‘ledger lines’: these lines are simply extensions of the staff and allow the notes to continue their single step (A,B,C, etc.) progression.

It is also useful, particularly to get a visual perspective, to see where the notes in the treble clef fall on the piano keyboard