Clef Note Finder
Tap a line or a space on the staff and the page names the note, gives its octave, shows it on the piano and plays it. Tap a piano key to go the other way. Treble clef, bass clef, alto clef and the grand staff, with three ledger lines above and below each staff. On every staff, middle C stays marked, so you always read from the same point.
Treble and bass clef notes chart
Every line and space of the treble, bass and alto staves, counted from the bottom: line 1 is the lowest line, space 1 is the gap just above it. The number after each name is the octave, with middle C written as C4.
| Position | Treble clef | Bass clef | Alto clef |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 5 | F5 | A3 | G4 |
| Space 4 | E5 | G3 | F4 |
| Line 4 | D5 | F3 | E4 |
| Space 3 | C5 | E3 | D4 |
| Line 3 | B4 | D3 | C4 |
| Space 2 | A4 | C3 | B3 |
| Line 2 | G4 | B2 | A3 |
| Space 1 | F4 | A2 | G3 |
| Line 1 | E4 | G2 | F3 |
Ledger line notes
Ledger lines carry the staff on above and below it. The first ledger line below the treble staff and the first ledger line above the bass staff are the same note: middle C.
| Position | Treble clef | Bass clef | Alto clef |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third ledger line above | E6 | G4 | F5 |
| Second ledger line above | C6 | E4 | D5 |
| First ledger line above | A5 | C4 | B4 |
| First ledger line below | C4 | E2 | D3 |
| Second ledger line below | A3 | C2 | B2 |
| Third ledger line below | F3 | A1 | G2 |
Mnemonics for the lines and spaces
Four short phrases cover both staves. Read each one from the bottom of the staff up: the first letter of every word is the note.
- Treble clef linesEvery Good Boy Does FineE G B D F
- Treble clef spacesF A C EF A C E
- Bass clef linesGood Boys Do Fine AlwaysG B D F A
- Bass clef spacesAll Cows Eat GrassA C E G
They work because the note names are letters: say the phrase, then read the initials.
How a clef names the lines
A clef fixes one line of the staff, and every other line and space follows from it. The treble clef, also called the G clef, curls around the second line from the bottom, so that line is G4. The bass clef, or F clef, puts its two dots either side of the fourth line, so that line is F3.
The grand staff joins the two staves with a brace, the way piano music is written. Between them sits middle C: one ledger line below the treble staff, or one ledger line above the bass staff. Both are the same key, C4. Which one you see depends on the hand that plays it.
The alto clef is a C clef: its two curves meet on the third line, which makes that line middle C. The viola reads it, because it keeps the instrument's range on the staff with few ledger lines.
How to read notes on the staff faster
Learn a few anchor notes by sight and count from the nearest one instead of from the bottom line. Good anchors are the two lines the clefs name (G4 and F3), middle C, and the top and bottom lines of each staff.
Each step up the staff, from a line to the next space or from a space to the next line, is the next note name. Two steps make a third: line to line, or space to space. That is why the lines of a staff skip every other note.
What the octave numbers mean
The number after a note name is its octave in scientific pitch notation. The number goes up at every C, so the note just below C4 is B3. A full 88-key piano runs from A0 to C8.
Practise it against the clock
Looking a note up is the first step; naming it without looking is the goal. The note reading game shows a note on the staff and gives you sixty seconds to name as many as you can.
Play the note reading game
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes on the treble clef lines and spaces?
From the bottom up, the five lines of the treble clef are E4, G4, B4, D5, F5, and the four spaces are F4, A4, C5, E5.
What are the notes on the bass clef lines and spaces?
From the bottom up, the five lines of the bass clef are G2, B2, D3, F3, A3, and the four spaces are A2, C3, E3, G3.
What are the notes on the alto clef lines and spaces?
From the bottom up, the five lines of the alto clef are F3, A3, C4, E4, G4, and the four spaces are G3, B3, D4, F4. The middle line is middle C.
Where is middle C on the staff?
On a short ledger line of its own between the two staves: one ledger line below the treble staff, or one ledger line above the bass staff. It is C4 in scientific pitch notation, near the middle of the piano keyboard.
What is a ledger line?
A short line added above or below the staff for a note that does not fit on it. Ledger lines continue the line-space-line pattern, so you read them by counting from the nearest staff line. This tool shows three above and three below each staff.
Why is the treble clef called the G clef?
Because it grew out of a written letter, and its curl still marks the line of that note: the second line from the bottom, G4. In the same way the bass clef, the F clef, marks F3 with its two dots.
How do I remember the notes on the staff?
Learn a few anchor notes and count from them. With English note names the classic phrases are Every Good Boy Does Fine and the word FACE for the treble clef, and Good Boys Do Fine Always and All Cows Eat Grass for the bass clef.
Is there an app for learning to read notes?
Yes. ChordIQ drills note reading on the treble, bass, alto and grand staff on iPhone, iPad and Android. Piano Companion is a piano chord and scale dictionary for iPhone, Android and Mac.
