From the course: Learning Music Notation
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Treble clef
- [Narrator] The staff is much like a ruler, or yardstick, that allows us to precisely measure the distance from one note to the next. But without a specific point of reference, any staff line or space could represent any note. In music notation, a symbol referred to as a clef sign, indicates the point of reference. So today there are four clef signs in general use. The treble clef, the top one on the slide here, is for notes in a higher range. The bass clef, for notes in a lower range, and for instruments whose range does not fit easily around either bass or treble clef, we have a variety of clefs that are called C clefs. And then the bottom clef that we see here, is called the neutral clef, and that is used for nonpitched instruments like instruments in the drum set. So let's start by talking about the treble or G clef. Now, I should mention that the world clef derives from a French word that means key. And in this context, the clef sign literally unlocks the meaning of the staff…
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