Music 101

🎼 The Basics of Reading Music

1. The Staff

  • The Staff (or Stave) has 5 lines and 4 spaces.

  • Notes are written on these lines and spaces. Higher on the staff = Higher pitch.

  • Lines and spaces are counted from the bottom up.

2. Clefs (Pitch)

A clef tells you which note is on which line.

  • Treble Clef (or G-Clef, the curly one): Used for higher-pitched instruments and the right hand on piano.

  • Lines (Bottom to Top): E - G - B - D - F

    • Mnemonic: Every Good Boy Does Fine

  • Spaces (Bottom to Top): F - A - C - E

    • Mnemonic: Spells the word FACE

  • Bass Clef (or F-Clef, the one with the two dots): Used for lower-pitched instruments and the left hand on piano.

    • Lines (Bottom to Top): G - B - D - F - A

      • Mnemonic: Good Boys Do Fine Always

    • Spaces (Bottom to Top): A - C - E - G

      • Mnemonic: All Cows Eat Grass

3. Rhythm (Duration)

The shape of the note tells you how long to hold it (its duration).

Note Name

Appearance

Duration (in 4/4 time)

Semibreve

O

4 beats

Minim

𝅗𝅥

2 beats

Crotchet

♩

1 beat

Quaver

♪

1/2 beat

Rests are symbols that mean silence for the same duration as the corresponding note.

4. Time Signature (Timing)

  • Found at the beginning, looks like a fraction (e.g., $4/4$).

  • Top Number: Tells you how many beats are in each measure (the space between vertical Bar Lines).

  • Bottom Number: Tells you what kind of note gets one beat (e.g., '4' means a quarter note gets one beat).

5. Accidentals (Sharps, Flats, and Naturals)

These symbols change the pitch of a note.

Sharp (

♯♯

: Raises the note's pitch by one half-step (to the next nearest key, usually a black one).

  • Flat ($\text{b}$): Lowers the note's pitch by one half-step.

  • Natural ($\text{\natural}$): Cancels a sharp or flat, restoring the note to its original pitch.

Practice memorizing the note names on the lines and spaces first!