The Treble Clef and Bass Clef

The treble clef and bass clef are two of the most popular clef signs used in music. These two clef signs are used by music composers for centuries, especially piano composers. There are other types of clef sign that are used in music, however, if want to become a great piano player then it is important that you learn all you can about these two signs.

What is the Treble Clef?

It is a musical sign that is placed at the beginning of the staff or stave in a piece of music. When it is placed on the staff the entire stave is called the treble staff. This clef sign is also called the G clef. It looks like a stylized 'G' that encircles the G line on the staff or stave.

Here is what the G clef looks like on and off the staff.

THE G CLEF WHEN OFF THE STAFF

THE G CLEF WHEN ON THE STAFF

The G clef is used for relatively high pitch ranges created by musical instruments or voices.

Some musical instruments that fall within the range of the G clef are the flute, violin, clarinet, oboe, saxophone and trumpet. Some keys on the piano also fall in the range of the G clef. The keys on the piano that fall in the range of the G clef are from "middle C" and above. Voices that are within the range of the treble clef or G clef are soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto and sometimes tenor.

What is the Bass Clef?

Like the G clef, the bass clef is a musical sign that is placed at the beginning of the staff. This sign is also called the F clef. The F clef represents sounds that are of low pitch.

Here is what the bass clef looks like on and off the staff.

BASS CLEF OFF THE STAFF

BASS CLEF ON THE STAFF

The F clef actually begins on the the fourth line of the staff. This line is called F.

Some musical instruments that fall within the range of the bass clef are the double bass, bass guitar, cello, bassoon, trombone, tuba, timpani and Euphonium. Voices such as baritone, bass and tenor falls with the ranges of the bass clef.

Both treble and bass clef will appear on several sheet music that are composed for piano. So it is very important to know them.

On the piano, the right hand is used to play notes written for the G clef while the left hand is used for notes written in the F clef.

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