Treble (G) Clef Staff

Treble (G) Clef Staff

The music staff has five lines and four spaces numbered from bottom to top. The bottom line is 1, then 2, 3, 4, top line is 5. The space between the 1st and 2nd line is the 1st space, then 2, 3, top space is 4. Each line and space has a letter name for its pitch.

The treble clef is also called the G clef because its bottom circles the 2nd line, naming it G. If you alternate line, space, line, space, the notes are in alphabetical order from bottom to top. Because in music we only use ABCDEFG, the space above G is A (there is no H.)

A faster way to name notes is to memorize the lines and spaces separately. The lines from bottom to top are Every GoodBoy Does Fine. The spaces from bottom to top are FACE. (Better still make up your own saying. The sillier it is, the better you will remember it.)

Practice: To learn the lines & spaces and get faster and more fluent identifying them…

1)Go to

Click Lessons, then The Staff, Clefs, and Ledger Lines. Remember that, since the notes are in alpha order, the bottom line is E and the bottom space is F.

2)Go click Exercises, then Note Identification.

Click the hotdog icon top right to customize. In treble range pull the top note down to the top line and the bottom note up to the bottom line. Whenever you don’t know the answer, click “reveal answer.”

3)Hand Staff - Hold your hand sideways with fingers a bit spread out to make a “hand staff.” Your fingers represent the 5 lines and 4 spaces of the music staff. Point to each line and space and say its name. By looking, touching, saying, and hearing the name, the information goes into your brain in multiple ways simultaneously!

4)Flash Cards - Draw 9 short staffs. Draw a treble clef on the left end of each staff. (Don’t worry about making it perfect. Do try to make the bottom part circle around the 2nd line.) Draw a whole note (the clear oval) on each line and space. (Be sure line notes have one line going through their middle and that space notes are between (not touching) the lines above and below. Write the pitch name on the back of the paper. You now have a set of flashcards to review alone or to have someone quiz you.