F-clefs

Article about the F clefs. Description and usage of the F-clefs and how to draw them: Learn how to use the bass clef and the baritone clef

There are two kinds of F-clef:

• The bass clef
• The baritone clef

As the bass clef is quasi only used, the bass clef is also named the F-clef.

Bass clef

The bass clef is generally used for the low-pitched sounds, it set the position of the F note on the staff (stave ). The origin (the dot) of the bass clef indicates the position of the F note.

From this reference, all other notes will be placed before and after the F note:

Below are more music notes in bass clef and some music notes with ledger lines:

What instruments use the bass clef?

Here are some instruments using the bass clef (F-clef):

String instruments:

• Cello
• Double bass
• Harp for the left hand
• Guitar
• Bass guitar

Wind instruments:

• Woodwinds: Bassoon, contrabassoon, fagott, contrafagott
• Brass: Tuba, trombone, euphonium, saxhorn, horn..

Keyboard instruments:

• For the left hand of the piano, the organ, the accordion and the harpsichord.

Voices:

• Baritone voice
• Bass voice

Octave bass clefs

An octave bass clef is a normal bass clef with the number 8 printed above or below:

• If the number 8 is below the clef, then all the music notes will be performed one octave lower.
• If the number 8 is above the clef, then all the music notes will be performed one octave higher.

In the following example, all C notes have the same pitch:

How to draw a bass clef

How to draw a beautiful bass clef:

#1) Draw a dot on the fourth line:



#2) Draw a curve clockwise like this:



#3) Draw two dots around the fourth line:

Evolution of the F-clef symbol

In the book A history of music by Charles Villiers Stanford and Cecil Forsyth, a representation of the evolution of the F-clef is exposed (source):

Key signatures in bass clef

The key signature are different depending on the clef used, because the position of sharps and flats depends on the position of the note. Here is the position of sharps and flats for a key signature with a bass clef and a baritone clef:

Another kind of F-clef, the baritone clef

The baritone clef is generally used for transposition, it set the position of the F note on the staff. The origin (the dot) of the baritone clef indicates the position of the F note.

From this reference, all other notes will be placed before and after the F note:

Below are more music notes in baritone clef and some with ledger lines:

learn to read bass clef with fun

With this game, you will learn to read bass clef with fun:

Test your knowledge

The bass clef set the position of the:

What does the number 8 written above the bass clef do?

What does the number 8 written below the bass clef do?

Bass clef

Article about the bass clef (F-clef). Description and usage of the bass clef and how to draw it. All you want to know about the bass clef.

Baritone clef

Article about the baritone clef (F-clef). Description and usage of the baritone clef and how to draw it. All you want to know about the baritone clef.

External links to learn more about :

1 - https://www.dolmetsch.com/musictheory1.htm
2 - https://www.dolmetsch.com/musictheory14.htm
3 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clef
4 - https://musicterms.artopium.com/f/Fclef.htm