Music Notation

Question 1

Notes

Answer 1

Notes tell us the pitch (high or low) and the duration (long or short) of sound.

Question 2

Staff or stave

Answer 2

Notes are placed on the staff of stave which consists of five lines and four spaces.

Question 3

Treble clef

Answer 3

Treble clef or G clef curls around the second line of the staff indicating the location of G.

Question 4

Bass clef

Answer 4

The bass clef or F clef has two dots on either side of the fourth line of the staff indicating the location of F

Question 5

Ledger lines

Answer 5

Ledger lines are used to extend the range of the staff. These lines are used for notes that are above or below the five lines of the treble and bass staves.

Question 6

Grand staff/ stave

Answer 6

The treble and bass staves combine the grand staff. The two staves are joined by a straight line and a curved brace or bracket.

Question 7

C clefs: The groove or opening of these clefs always indicate middle C. So based on the alto clef, where is middle c located at?

Answer 7

Middle C is located on the third line of the staff. Music for the viola is written in the alto clef in order to keep most of the notes within the staff. This avoids the large number of ledger lines.