1.1 Pitch & the Staff

The staff and clefs

Music is written on a five-line staff. The treble clef (G clef) circles the G above middle C; the bass clef (F clef) marks the F below middle C. Together they form the grand staff.

Note names

Pitches use the letters A–G, then repeat. Treble lines from bottom are E-G-B-D-F ('Every Good Boy Does Fine'); treble spaces spell F-A-C-E. Middle C sits on a ledger line between the two staves.

Accidentals

A sharp (♯) raises a pitch a half step, a flat (♭) lowers it a half step, and a natural (♮) cancels them. An accidental lasts for the rest of the measure.

Key terms

Staff

the five lines and four spaces music is written on

Treble clef

G clef; lines E-G-B-D-F, spaces F-A-C-E

Bass clef

F clef; lines G-B-D-F-A, spaces A-C-E-G

Sharp / flat / natural

raise / lower a half step / cancel

Middle C

sits on a ledger line between the staves

Try an AP-style question

On the treble staff, the lines from bottom to top are…

1. F A C E G
2. E G B D F
3. A C E G B
4. G B D F A