How to Learn to Read Music, Part 1 (The Basics and Treble Clef)

You can learn to read music like a pro. In this article, we will learn about the musical alphabet, the staff, the two most common clefs (Treble Clef and Bass Clef), and how to learn to read notes on a staff with Treble Clef. If you do not know what all of these words mean, have no worries. It's all explained below. Here's how to get started reading music.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   When you begin learning to read music, you first need to know the musical alphabet. A, B, C, D, E, F, G

2. 
    
   Treble and Bass clef Images from www.wpclipart.com

   As you learn to read music, you will notice markings at the beginning of the music. These markings are called clefs. The two most common clefs are the Treble Clef and the Bass Clef. (See Picture)

3. 
    

   Music is notes are read on a staff. A staff "is a set of five horizontal lines and four spaces, on which note symbols are placed to indicate their pitch." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staff_(music))

4. Each line and space on the staff is given a different name.

5. 
    
   Treble Clef Line Names:

   For staves (plural of staff) with a Treble Clef, the names of the lines are E, G, B, D, F. Music students often make up a sentence to help remember the names of the lines, or they use the old standard: Every Good Boy Does Fine. (The first letter of each word is the name of a line on the staff--starting at the bottom of the staff.)

6. 
    
   Treble Clef Space Names:

   For staves (plural of staff) with a Treble Clef, the names of the spaces are F, A, C, E. Music students often remember the space names as the word, FACE.

7. To learn how to read the notes of the Bass Clef, see Part 2 of this article: "How to Learn to Read Music, Part 2."

Tips & Warnings

• Remember the line names using the sentence, "Every Good Boy Does Fine."
• Remember the space names using the word, "FACE."

Resources

• How to Learn to Read Music, Part 2 (Bass Clef)
• Pitch Reading Drills
• Learn to Read Music
• Note Name Flash Cards
• How to Practice a Musical Instrument
• How to Learn to Read Music, Part 4 (Leger Lines in Bass Clef)
• How to Learn to Read Music, Part 6 (Rhythm: Rests)
• How to Learn to Read Music, Part 6 (Rhythm: Rests)

[steacher]

on 11/19/2009 Very clear and well written!