Lesson 3: Staff, Treble Clef, Bass Clef, Grand Staff, and Middle C
Category: Lessons
The two clefs that are used when playing the piano are the treble clef and the bass clef. In music, a clef is used to define the location of notes on the staff. These symbols form the basic infrastructure of piano sheet music.
Staff
The staff is the most basic element of Western music notation. It consists of 5 horizontal lines with 4 spaces between them. These are the lines (and spaces) upon which notes are written to indicate their pitch.
The Treble Clef
The treble clef, also called the G clef, is the clef commonly used for the right-hand in piano sheet music. The word ‘treble’ means soprano, or having a high range or tone. Therefore the treble clef is usually used to express the notes about or above middle C.
When the treble clef is used, the G above middle C is located on the second line of the staff. An easy way to remember this is to notice that the treble clef symbol encircles the second line, indicating it is the G line. Any note that falls on that line will be a G.
The Bass Clef
The bass clef can be used to express notes about or below middle C. It is used for instruments that have a lower pitch, such as trombone, tuba, and bass guitar. In piano sheet music, it is used for the left hand. The bass clef is also called the F-clef. Can you guess where the F note would fall on the staff? If you guessed that the F falls on the 4th line, you would be right.
The Grand Staff
Finally, we will discuss the grand staff. When you put the two clefs and two staffs together, you have what is called the grand staff. Most piano music will use the grand staff. Notice in the illustration below that middle C is located between the two staves. On your keyboard, middle C is the C that is closest to the middle of the keyboard.
Exercise
1. Find middle C on your keyboard
2. Find the G above middle C on your keyboard
3. Find the F below middle C on your keyboard
4. Locate G on the treble clef on the illustration above
5. Locate F on the bass clef on the illustration above
Posted on October 23rd, 2008 by sharlene
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