SATB

Four-voice SATB arrangement of Bach's Cantata BWV 140.

SATB is a common scoring for four parts in music. These are Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass. As the altos as sometimes called contralto, the name is sometimes SCTB. When the notes are written down for choir, soprano and alto use the treble clef. Bass uses the bass clef. Tenor uses either the treble clef or the bass clef. In the treble clef, the notes are written one octave higher than they sound. This is usually marked with a small number 8 below the clef. When done for an orchestra, other clefs may be used. Sometimes , altos are also written that way (one octave up), and this is marked similarly. In some cases, the voices are written on the same line or staff. This is especially the case when space is an issue. In this case, sopranos and altos use the treble clef, and tenors and basses use the bass clef. In this case, the notes of the tenor are written at their original height.