Music Theory #1- 10MSS

The Stave

• The Stave (or staff) are 5 lines and 4 spaces in which music is written in.
• Music notes are not circular, but more ovals that are drawn on their side.

The Treble Clef

• The treble clef began as a stylised letter “g“, and it is used to show where G is on the stave.
• To draw it, start on the second line of the stave (the G line).
• The treble clef is also known as the G clef.
• To remember the notes on the lines, remember “Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge” (EGBDF)
• To remember the notes in between lines, remember “FACE”

The Bass Clef

• The bass clef is also called the “F Clef” because it defines where the F is on the stave.
• To draw it, start with a dot on the F line, curve up and touch the top line, then curve downward, finishing on or just under the fourth line.
• The dots must go on each side of the F line, in the top two spaces of the stave.
• It is called the F clef since you start drawing it on the F line and you draw two dot next to the F line.
• To remember the note on the lines, remember “Good Burritos Don’t Fall Apart” (GBDFA)
• To remember the notes in between lines, remember “All Cows Eat Grass” (ACEG)

The Grand Stave

• The grand stave is used by pianos and other keyboard instrument that require two hands. The two staves are joined by a brace on the left hand side. Generally the right hand plays the upper stave and the left plays the lower.
• The middle C is a note that can be written either right above the bass clef or right below the treble clef.

Ledger Lines

• Ledger lines (can be spelled leger lines) are used when notes are written higher or lower than the stave.