The staff
A staff has 5 lines e 4 spaces, counted from bottom to top. Notes are written on the lines or in the spaces. Each step up (from line to space, or space to line) is the next note: C, D, E…
Line, space, line, space… each step is the next note.
Treble clef
A clef is the symbol at the start of the staff that tells you which note goes on which line. The treble clef starts wound around the 2nd line: that's where you find G. It's used for flute, violin, guitar, the piano's right hand, voice and most high-pitched instruments.
Memory trick
| Where | Notes (from bottom to top) | How to memorize |
|---|---|---|
| Lines | E · G · B · D · F | Start on E and skip one note each time: E (F) G (A) B (C) D (E) F |
| Spaces | F · A · C · E | They're the notes left off the lines: F, A, C, E |
Middle C and ledger lines
When a note goes beyond the staff, we draw little bits of line just for it: the ledger lines. O Middle C (the C in the middle of the piano) sits on the first ledger line below the treble clef.
Each little dash is a ledger line.
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Open the free app →Bass clef
A bass clef has two little dots around the 4th line: that's where you find F. It's used for low notes: the piano's left hand, cello, double bass, bassoon, trombone.
| Where | Notes (from bottom to top) |
|---|---|
| Lines | G · B · D · F · A |
| Spaces | A · C · E · G |
Middle C also appears in the bass clef, on a ledger line above of the staff. It's the “bridge” between the piano's two clefs.
Sharps, flats and key signature
A ♯ or ♭ next to a note applies to it until the end of the measure. If it appears at the start of every line, right after the clef, it's the key signature and applies to the whole piece, in every octave. A ♮ (natural) cancels the accidental.
What about note length?
The shape of the note (hollow, filled, with a stem, with a flag) shows how long it lasts. This is explained in rhythm and time signature. Reading sheet music means putting the two together: pitch (where the note is) and duration (which note value it is).
5 tips to read faster
- Use landmarks: learn 3 notes really well (middle C, the G on the 2nd line, the C in the 3rd space) and count from them.
- Read by intervals: instead of naming each note, see whether the next one goes up or down and by how much (next door, skips one…).
- A little every day: 5 minutes of reading a day gets you further than an hour a week.
- Read easy stuff: simple, slow songs, many times. Speed comes from repetition.
- Play while you read: linking the note on the staff to the finger on the instrument sticks much faster.
Now put the theory into your fingers
In Dedilhado Vivo you learn flute, guitar, violin or piano by seeing each finger on the screen, and the app listens to you play through the microphone.
Practice theory in the free appFrequently asked questions
What are the notes on the lines in treble clef?
From bottom to top: E, G, B, D, F. In the spaces: F, A, C, E.
What are the notes on the lines in bass clef?
From bottom to top: G, B, D, F, A. In the spaces: A, C, E, G.
Where is middle C on the staff?
On the first ledger line below the staff in treble clef, or on the first ledger line above the staff in bass clef.
How long does it take to learn to read sheet music?
Reading the basic notes takes a few days with daily practice. Reading fluently, rhythm included, takes a few months of reading a little every day.