THE FOUR MOST COMMON CLEFS
A clef is the starting point of music. It tells you where the notes lie on the stave. A short description of the most common is given below. But don't get hung up about them. A lot of instruments only use one clef and lots of musicians can only read in the clef for their instrument.
I had played half a dozen different instruments and yet only read in treble clef over about 30 years. Then we got a piano and I started to learn bass clef as well but i have never read in tenor or alto although my trombone playing partner assures me they are easy.
You probably won't need all of them and even if you do you need only learn one at a time. So have a read but above all don't worry.
I had played half a dozen different instruments and yet only read in treble clef over about 30 years. Then we got a piano and I started to learn bass clef as well but i have never read in tenor or alto although my trombone playing partner assures me they are easy.
You probably won't need all of them and even if you do you need only learn one at a time. So have a read but above all don't worry.
TREBLE CLEF
Treble - the G clef - this curls around the second line up on the stave and that indicates that notes on this line are G's.
This is the clef you will use for descant recorder but many other instruments also use it, such as the right hand part on piano music and brass band instruments such as cornets and tenor horns.
This is the clef you will use for descant recorder but many other instruments also use it, such as the right hand part on piano music and brass band instruments such as cornets and tenor horns.
BASS CLEF
Bass - the F clef - this has two dots either side of the second line down on the stave, indicating that in this clef notes on that line are F's.
This is the clef used for the left hand part on piano music and many low pitched instruments such as bass trombone.
This is the clef used for the left hand part on piano music and many low pitched instruments such as bass trombone.
ALTO CLEF
Alto - the C clef - the pointy bit in the middle of the symbol is shown over the middle line on the stave and indicates that notes on this line are Middle C's.
This is generally used for specific alto instruments such as viola but some trombone music is also written in alto clef.
This is generally used for specific alto instruments such as viola but some trombone music is also written in alto clef.
TENOR CLEF
Tenor - also a C clef but with the point of the symbol shown over the second line down on the stave, making that the Middle C line. Sometimes used for cello and occasionally trombone.
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