How to Read Music
There are only seven letters used for notes in music. They are:
These notes are known as the musical alphabet. They are the names of the white keys on the keyboard.
Staves
These five lines are called the staff or stave. Music notes are written in the spaces and on the lines of the staff.
Treble Clef
This symbol is called a treble clef.
Treble Staff
A staff with a treble clef written on it is called a treble staff.
This clef indicates the position of the note G. It is an old fashioned method of writing the letter G, with the center of the clef being written on the second staff line. High notes are written on the treble staff, and are usually played with the right hand.
The other lines and spaces on the staff are named as such:
Extra notes can be added by the use of short lines, called ledger lines.
When a note is placed on a staff, its head indicates its position, e.g.:
When the note head is below the middle staff line the stem points upward, and when the head is above the middle line the stem points downward. A note placed on the middle line (B) can have its stem pointing either up or down.
Bass Clef
This symbol is called a bass clef.
Bass Staff
A staff with a bass clef written on it is called the bass staff.
This clef indicates the position of the note F. (It is an old fashioned method of writing the letter F, with the center of the dots being written above and below the fourth staff line. Low notes are written on the bass staff, and are usually played with the left hand.)
The other lines and spaces on the bass staff are named as such:
As with the treble staff, extra notes can be added by the use of short lines, called ledger lines.
