How to Read Music
The Staff
These five lines are called the staff or stave.
Treble Clef
This symbol is called a treble clef. There is a treble clef at the beginning of every line of keyboard music.
Treble Staff
A staff with a treble clef written on it is called a treble staff.
The Quarter Note
This is a musical note called a quarter note.
Notes on the treble staff are usually played with your right hand.
Music notes are written in the spaces and on the lines of a staff.
Things to Remember
- Count aloud as you play.
- Play slowly and evenly.
The Note Middle C
Middle C is written just below the staff on a short line (called a ledger line).
Play the note C with the thumb of you right hand.
Play eight Middle C notes. Count aloud as you play. Use the thumb of your right hand.
Music is divided into bars by bar lines. In this song there are two bars of music. A bar can also be called a measure.
The Four Four Time Signature
This is called the four four time signature. It tells you there are four beats in each bar.
The two numbers after the clef are called the time signature.
Here are four bars of Middle C in * time. Count aloud as you play.
There are four quarter notes in one bar of * time.
