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Treble and bass clef note names
The clef fixes which line or space is which note. Learn the lines and the spaces separately and you can name any note on the stave.
Treble clef
| Notes, bottom to top | Memory aid | |
|---|---|---|
| Lines | E G B D F | Every Good Boy Does Fine |
| Spaces | F A C E | It spells the word FACE |
Bass clef
| Notes, bottom to top | Memory aid | |
|---|---|---|
| Lines | G B D F A | Good Boys Do Fine Always |
| Spaces | A C E G | All Cows Eat Grass |
Middle C
Middle C sits on a short ledge called a ledger line. It is one ledger line below the treble stave, and one ledger line above the bass stave. The two staves share it, which is why the grand staff used for piano reads as one continuous range.
Alto and tenor clef
The alto clef (used by the viola) places middle C on the middle line. The tenor clef places it on the fourth line from the bottom.
| Alto clef | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Lines | F A C E G |
| Spaces | G B D F |
Ledger lines
Notes above or below the stave sit on short extra lines. Keep counting letter names up or down from the nearest stave line: after G above the treble stave comes A, then B.
Practise it
Mustud’s “name the notes” exercise makes a new row of notes in treble, bass, alto or tenor clef whenever you tap, with optional ledger lines and a key signature. See name the notes worksheets.
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