© 2012
Product of Australia
All About Clefs
by Beatrice Wilder
CONTENTS
1: Three Clefs
2: Just the G Clef
3: The F Clef
4: The C Clef
5: Neutral Clef
Copyright © Music Fun 2012
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All About Clefs
Name .........................................
1. Three Clefs
Some tracing and colouring practice:
Here are some more strange looking ‘G’s.
This is a G Clef
It is meant to look a little like a G
We usually refer to it as a ‘Treble Clef’ Can you see the shape of a ‘G’ in the G Clef?
Some tracing and colouring practice:
Here are some more strange looking ‘F’s.
This is an F Clef
It is meant to look a little like a F
We usually refer to it as a ‘Bass Clef’
Can you see the shape of an ‘F’ in the F Clef?
Some tracing and colouring practice:
Here are some more strange looking ‘C’s.
This is a C Clef
It is meant to look a little like a C
We usually refer to it as an ‘Alto Clef’
and sometimes a ‘Tenor Clef’ Can you see the shape of a ‘C’ in the C Clef?
All About Clefs
Name .........................................
2. Just the G Clef
Imagine writing music on a staff like this one: It would be easier if you knew where ‘G’ was: Of course, our staves are five lines only and
Where’s G? Where’s F? the G clef or Treble clef tells us that the line
around which it curls is the G above middle C,
also called G4.
Copy another two treble clefs.
G
The word ‘Clef’ comes from an old Latin word meaning ‘Key.’
The letters ‘F’ and ‘C’ and ‘G’ were written on the staff
as a ‘key’ to the names of the notes.
The ‘G’ clef tells you which line is going to be ‘G’.
The next G up from Middle C is called G4 because it is in the 4th octave on the piano. A piano usually has eight octaves.
G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 G7
A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C
Middle C is C4
Label all of the other C’s
All About Clefs
Name .........................................
3. The F Clef The line that goes between the two dots on the
Before the modern F clef, the letter ‘F’ The F clef, or bass clef tells you bass clef is F3.
was simply written onto the staff. where ‘F’ is going to be on the staff: This means that it is the ‘F’ below middle C
If we did that these days Copy another two bass clefs.
it might look like this:
The bass clef is used on the Answer these:
bottom clef on the grand stave.
Trace the clefs on the grand stave The F Clef is also called the ............................................................
opposite and label the notes correctly:
The G Clef is also called the ............................................................
Label all of the F’s (F1 to F7)
A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C
Middle C is C4
Circle the F indicated by the Bass Clef
All About Clefs
Name .........................................
4. The C Clef
To draw a C clef yourself, start with
The C Clef tells you which line Middle C is on. Then you know that two straight lines: Practice the C Curve:
It used to be drawn just as a ‘C’ Middle C is here: and put them together:
Rather like this: These days like this:
C
The C Clef is tricky! These days, generally the only Instruments that can use
Here it is called an Here it is called a instrument using the alto clef the tenor clef include:
Alto Clef: Tenor Clef: is the:
Cello
Viola
Trombone
but these can also use it:
Euphonium
Alto trombone
Bassoon
Oboe
Double Bass
Some recorders
Middle C Middle C
Practice tracing and copying the alto clef: Practice tracing and copying the tenor clef:
All About Clefs
Name .........................................
5. Neutral Clef
This clef is used for percussion instruments of indefinite pitch.
A different sort of clef altogether.
It does not have a letter name.
Both of these clefs are commonly used: Practice drawing the Neutral Clef:
or
Sometimes only one line is needed: Percussion instruments Add some of your own:
with indefinite pitch:
Drums
Woodblock
You choose one. Slapstick
Instruments you could use this for:
Guiro
Triangle
Triangle
Tambourine ......................................... Castanets
Sometimes two lines are needed: Some drum sets need lines and spaces for each drum
so the composer would use five lines using note position
as a guide to which drum to use, like this:
You choose one.
Instruments you could use this for:
Bongo Drums
Congas ......................................... bass drum snare drum low, mid and high toms
