1.1 Musical Notation
The system for writing music: learn to read and write notes on the staff
Key Concepts
- Staff: 5 lines + 4 spaces for placing notes
- Clefs: Violin (G), Bass (F), C – these determine the pitch of the notes
- 7 natural notes: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si (C, D, E, F, G, A, B)
- Accidentals: ♯ (sharp) raises, ♭ (flat) lowers, ♮ (natural) cancels
- Octaves: The notes are repeated cyclically every 8 notes
- Central Do (C4): The reference point between the two keys
The Staff
What is the staff?
The staff (or musical staff) is the fundamental graphic system used to write music. It consists of five parallel horizontal lines and four spaces between them. Musical notes are placed on these lines and spaces to indicate their pitch.
How Are They Counted?
Lines and spaces are always counted from the bottom up. The lowest line is the first line; the highest line is the fifth line. Similarly, the lowest space is the first space.
Ledger Lines
For very high or very low notes, ledger lines are used to extend the staff above and below the five main lines.
Historical Background
The five-line staff was standardised in the 16th century. Previously, staffs with four, six or more lines were used. The monk Guido d’Arezzo (11th century) was one of the pioneers of modern musical notation, having also invented the names of the notes (Do, Re, Mi…) taken from the hymn ‘Ut queant laxis’.
Musical Clefs
What Are Keys For?
Clefs are symbols placed at the start of the staff that determine which notes correspond to the lines and spaces. Without a clef, we wouldn’t know which note to read! The three main clefs are: treble clef (G), bass clef (F) and C clef.
Treble clef (G)
Treble Clef / G Clef
This indicates that the second line corresponds to the note G.
Instruments: Violin, flute, trumpet, guitar, oboe, soprano saxophone, right hand on the piano, soprano and contralto voices
Bass clef (F)
Bass Clef / F Clef
This indicates that the 4th line corresponds to the note F.
Instruments: Double bass, electric bass, trombone, bassoon, tuba, the left hand of the piano, tenor and bass voices
C clef (alto)
Treble Clef / C Clef
This indicates that the 3rd line corresponds to middle C (C4).
Instruments: Viola, some alto trombone parts. Less common but essential for chamber music
Why Are There Different Keys?
Every instrument has a different range (range of notes). Using the appropriate clef allows you to write the notes within the space of the staff without having to use too many ledger lines, making it easier to read. The viola, for example, is played in a middle register, so it uses the C clef, which centres its notes perfectly on the staff.
The Grand Staff
The piano uses two superimposed staves: the treble clef at the top (right hand) and the bass clef at the bottom (left hand), connected by a brace. This is called the Grand Staff and covers a wide range of notes (approximately 7 octaves).
Notes on the Staff
The 7 Natural Notes
The seven natural notes are: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si (in Italian notation) or C, D, E, F, G, A, B (Anglo-Saxon/international notation). These notes repeat cyclically across the entire staff, rising in pitch.
| Italian | English | German | Solfège |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do | C | C | Do |
| King | D | D | King |
| Me | E | E | Me |
| It | F | F | It |
| Sol | G | G | Sol |
| The | A | A | The |
| Yes | B | H | You/You |
Reading Treble Clef Notes
Mnemonic Techniques
Lines (from the bottom):
E – G – B – D – F
“Every Good Boy Does Fine” (English)
Notes (from the bottom):
F – A – C – E
‘FACE’ (spelling out the English word ‘face’)
In the bass clef
Notes: Sol – Si – Re – Fa – La
Keys: A – C – E – G
Practical Exercise
To learn to read music quickly, practise daily using flashcards or sight-reading apps. Start with the middle notes of the staff, then gradually add the higher and lower notes. The key is repetition: 10–15 minutes a day for a few weeks makes a huge difference!
Accidentals
What Are Accidental Changes?
Accidents are symbols that alter the pitch of notes by a semitone (the smallest interval between two notes in the Western musical system). There are three basic types: sharp, flat and natural.
Sharp
Raise by a semitone
The sharp raises the note by a semitone. It is written before the note.
Example: C♯ is a semitone above C (between C and D)
Flat
Lower by a semitone
A flat lowers the note by a semitone. It is written before the note.
Example: B♭ is a semitone below B (between A and B)
Natural (Natural)
Undo accidental changes
The natural sign cancels out any preceding sharps or flats, restoring the note to its natural state.
Example: If you have C♯, then C♮ refers back to natural C
Double Accidents
𝄪 Double sharp: Raises the note by two semitones (a whole tone)
𝄫 Double flat: Lowers the note by two semitones (one whole tone)
Enharmonic Notes
Enharmonic notes are notes that have different names but produce the same sound (the same frequency). This is because a semitone above a note is the same sound as a semitone below the next note.
| Note 1 | = | Note 2 | Piano Key |
|---|---|---|---|
| D♯ | = | D♭ | Black key between C and D |
| D♯ | = | E♭ | Black key between C and E |
| E♯ | = | It | White Fa key |
| F♯ | = | G♭ | Black key between F and G |
| G♯ | = | A♭ | The black key between G and A |
| A♯ | = | B♭ | The black key between A and B |
| B♯ | = | Do | White C key |
Important Rules
- An accidental applies to the entire bar (measure) and only to that specific note pitch
- Accidentals apply throughout the piece, unless otherwise indicated
- The ‘courtesy bar’ is sometimes written at the start of the next bar to indicate that the accenting no longer applies
Octaves and Register
What is an ‘Octave’?
An octave is the interval between a note and its higher or lower counterpart. It takes its name from the fact that, in the major scale, it spans the eight notes (C–D–E–F–G–A–B–C). Two notes an octave apart are the same note but at different pitches.
Middle C
Middle C (known as C4 or Do4 in musical notation) is the C that lies exactly in the centre of the piano keyboard. It is a fundamental reference point in musical notation.
On the staff, middle C is written on a line below the treble clef, or on a line above the bass clef. It is literally the point where the two clefs meet on the grand staff!
Octave Numbering System
There is a standard system for numbering octaves called scientific pitch notation. Each C marks the start of a new octave, numbered from 0 to 8.
| Octave | Note Range | Description | Tools/Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| C0 - B0 | Do0 – Si0 | Sub-contrabass (very low) | Pipe organ, synthesisers |
| C1 - B1 | C1 - B1 | Double bass | Double bass, tuba bass |
| C2 - B2 | C2 - B2 | Major octave (low register) | Bass voice, cello, bassoon |
| C3 - B3 | C3 - C sharp3 | Little Octave | Tenor voice, viola |
| C4 - B4 | D4 – E4 | First octave (middle C) | Contralto voice, bass flute |
| C5 - B5 | E5 - B5 | Second octave | Soprano voice, violin |
| C6 - B6 | C♭ - B♭ | Third octave (high) | Flute, coloratura soprano |
| C7 - B7 | G7 - B7 | Fourth octave (very high) | Octave, piano range |
| C8 | Do8 | The highest note on the piano | The last key on the piano |
The Piano
A standard piano has 88 keys covering 7 octaves and 3 notes (from A0 to C8). The middle C (C4) is the fourth C counting from the bottom. Some modern pianos have extensions of up to 97 keys.
Human Voice
- Bass: E2 – E4 (E2 – E4)
- Range: C3 – C5 (Do3 – Do5)
- Contralto: F3 – F5 (F3 – F5)
- Soprano: C4 – C6 (Do4 – Do6)
Study Tips
Recommended Exercises
- Draw staffs and practise writing clefs and notes every day
- Use flashcards or apps to recognise notes quickly (sight-reading)
- Learn mnemonic tricks for lines and spaces
- Practise using real sheet music at your level, even simple melodies
- Practise writing scales with the correct accidents
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Mixing up the treble clef with the bass clef (always check!)
- Counting the lines from the top rather than from the bottom
- Forgetting that the accidents apply throughout the whole bar
- Failure to recognise enharmonic notes (C♯ = D♭)
- Placing notes incorrectly between the lines and spaces
Next Steps
Now that you know the basic notation, the next step is to learn:
- Rhythm and Time (1.2) – Note values, rests and time signatures
- Intervals (1.3) – The distances between notes
- Basic Scales (1.4) – Major scale and minor scale
Remember: Notation is the foundation of everything. Take the time you need to master it properly before moving on!