Clefs & Notes

7 Notes

Clefs:

The First symbol that appears at the beginning of every music staff is a clef Symbol. It is very important because it tells you which note is found on each line or space.

Two Clefs are normally used: The Treble and Bass Clefs.

Treble Clef:

This is an ornamentel form of alphabet 'G'

a treble clef symbol tells you that the second line from the bottom is ' G '. Any note placed on this line becomes G.

The note on the space above G is A. (Remember, there is no "H" note).

Bass Clef:

This is an ornamentel form of alphabet ' F '

A bass clef symbol tells you that the second line from the top is F.

Any note placed on this line becomes F.

Why use different clefs?

Music is easier to read and write if most of the notes fall on the staff.

Voices and instruments with higher ranges usually learn to read treble clef, while voices and instruments with lower ranges usually learn to read bass clef.

Memorise:

One of the First steps in learning to read music in a particular clef is memorising where the notes are.

Note Duration:

The length of time that a note is played is called its note duration, which is determined by the type of note.

The whole note has the longest note duration in modern music.

The half note has half the duration of a whole note.

2 half notes occupy the same amount of time as 1 whole note.

The quarter note is a fourth (or a quarter) of a whole note.

4 quarter notes occupy the same amount of time as 1 whole note. 2 Quater notes = 1 Half note.

Notes smaller in duration than a quarter note have flags. Each flag halves the value of a note. i.e 2 Eighth notes = 1 Quater note.

The above chart displays the relationship of all five note types.

tbc...