Notes on the staff
Tap a note to hear it. Pick an octave to highlight one of them.
Lines and spaces in every clef
Treble clef
The G clef curls around the second line, which is G4. Used for violin, flute, the right hand of the piano and – an octave higher than it sounds – the guitar.
Lines (bottom to top): E4 – G4 – B4 – D5 – F5
Spaces: F4 – A4 – C5 – E5
Middle C: first ledger line below the staff.
Bass clef
The F clef's two dots sit either side of the fourth line, which is F3. Used for cello, double bass, bass guitar and the left hand of the piano.
Lines (bottom to top): G2 – B2 – D3 – F3 – A3
Spaces: A2 – C3 – E3 – G3
Middle C: first ledger line above the staff.
Alto clef
The C clef centred on the middle line makes it middle C (C4). The home clef of the viola.
Lines (bottom to top): F3 – A3 – C4 – E4 – G4
Spaces: G3 – B3 – D4 – F4
Middle C: the middle (third) line.
Tenor clef
The same C clef placed on the fourth line. Cello, bassoon and trombone switch to it for high passages.
Lines (bottom to top): D3 – F3 – A3 – C4 – E4
Spaces: E3 – G3 – B3 – D4
Middle C: the fourth line.
Five lines, four spaces – and the clef decides which note each of them is. Pick a note and a clef to see it in every octave that fits within three ledger lines, and use the reference below to read lines and spaces at a glance.
More note finders
How do I remember the notes of the treble clef?
Lines from the bottom: E G B D F ("Every Good Boy Does Fine"). Spaces: F A C E – they spell "face".
And the bass clef?
Lines from the bottom: G B D F A ("Good Boys Do Fine Always"). Spaces: A C E G ("All Cows Eat Grass").
Why do guitar notes look an octave too high?
Guitar music is written in treble clef an octave above how it sounds, so the notes stay on the staff instead of needing many ledger lines. The open low E string is written as E3 but sounds E2.