Introduction To Notation: Part 2

Bass Clef
First we will look at and analyze the Bass Clef, as we are bass players and that is the most
common clef that we will see when sight-reading.

The Bass Clef is also known as the F Clef. The dots that are placed in the spaces between the
staff line indicate where the Note F lies. The bass clef has a lower register due to the range of
the instrument. When first learning how to read it’s a good idea to memorize the names of
the notes that lie on and in the spaces between the staff lines.

In the bass clef you can use simple phrases to help you memorize the positioning of the
notes. Here is a helpful phrase for the notes that lie on the staff lines in bass clef.

Good - Boys - Do - Fine - Always (G-B-D-F-A)

Here is how this phrase fits on the staff lines

Here are the Notes that lie on the Staff Lines.

There is also a helpful phrase for you to memorize for the notes found in the spaces between
the staff lines of the bass clef.

All - Cows - Eat - Grass (A-C-E-G)

  

Here is how this phrase fits in the spaces between the staff lines

Here are the notes that lie in the space between the staff lines.

All notes on the staff basically follow in a stepwise order using the musical alphabet. You can
also place notes hanging below the bottom staff line and sitting above the top staff line.

Here is a combination of Notes on and that lie in the spaces between the staff lines.

You can write music above and below the staff lines to create a wider range.
  

Ledger Lines

Ledger Lines Above The Staff

Ledger Lines Below The Staff

As you can see above all the Notes are written in a stepwise order using the musical alphabet
moving from the bottom of the staff and up. You can keep adding as many Ledger Lines as
you need to too get the desired pitch. However at a certain point it can become too hard to
read, at this point we have basically 2 options.

1. We can use the 8va symbol

These 2 Notes (D) are played in the same range. The 2nd note is a lot easier to read with the
8va Line system. The passage of notes in the higher octave will last as long as the bracket
lasts. I never write higher than the Note C that sits on top of the 4th ledger line.

2. The 2nd option is to change from a Bass Clef to a Treble Clef.

Again these 2 Notes are the same, it is more common to use the 8va Symbol than change
Clefs, and you will find the Clef change more common in Classical music.
  

The three most commonly used basses are the 4 String, the 5 String and the 6 String. The
Bass is tuned up in 4ths.

The 4 String is tuned E (lowest string), A, D and G. The 5 String is tuned B (lowest string), E, A,
D and G. The 6 String is tuned B (lowest string), E, A, D, G and C.
  

Notation In Treble Clef

The Treble Clef is also known as the G Clef. The note G lies on the 2nd staff line from the
bottom and is encircled by the curl on the treble clef.

Treble Clef

We have looked at the bass clef and now will focus on the treble clef. The treble clef
although not in the bass register is the most commonly used clef in music. It is used in most
lead sheet music as most melodies are written in treble clef. As a bassist you may not use it
as much as the bass clef but it's very important to have a good grasp on it. Especially if you
are writing charts for other musicians that aren’t bass players.

In the treble clef you can also use simple phrases to help you memorize the positioning of
the notes. Here is a helpful phrase for the notes that lie on the staff lines in treble clef.

Every - Good - Boy - Deserves - Football (E-G-B-D-F)

  

Here is how this phrase fits on the staff lines

Here are the Notes that lie on the Staff Lines.

There is also a no phrase for you to memorize for the notes found in the spaces between the
staff lines of the treble clef but the note do spell out a word that helps make these notes easy
to memorize.

F-A-C-E

Here is how the word FACE fits in the spaces between the staff lines

Here are the Notes that lie in the spaces between the Staff Lines.
  

Here is a combination of Notes on and that lie in-between the Staff Lines.

Combination of Bass and Treble Clefs used in Piano Notation

Here is how a typical staff combining both clefs used in piano notation.

A single note on a ledger line above the bass clef separates the notation in-between these 2
clefs. That note is a C and is named Middle C.

Here is how the notation lies on these 2 clefs