Article about the treble clef (G-clef). Description and usage of the treble clef and how to draw it. All you want to know about the treble clef.
The treble clef is certainly the most used clef, it determines the position of the G note on the staff (stave ).
From this reference, all others music notes will be placed before and after the G note.
Below are more music notes in treble clef and some music notes with ledger lines:
What instruments use the treble clef?
Here are some instruments using the treble clef (G-clef):
String instruments:
Violin
Cello for the high notes.
Harp for the right hand
Guitar
Ukulele
Mandoline
Woodwinds instruments:
Flute
Recorder
Clarinets (all clarinets of the clarinet family, even bass clarinet)
Oboe
Saxophones (all saxophones)
Brass instruments:
Horn
Trumpet
Cornet
Euphonium
Saxhorn
Keyboard instruments:
For the right hand of the piano, the organ, the accordion and the harpsichord.
Percussion instruments:
Vibraphone
Xylophone
Voices:
soprano voice
Alto voice
Octave treble clefs
An octave treble clef is a normal treble 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 treble clef
Draw a dot on the 2nd line
Draw a semi circle clockwise
Draw a line beyond the staff
Draw a vertical line
Draw the final hook clockwise
Here is how to draw a treble clef:
You will notice that computer software draw treble clef like this:
And you will notice that there is no dot on the second line, I really don't know why.
Treble clef in the grand staff (great stave )
The treble clef in use in the grand staff, like for the piano all most of keyboard instruments. The grand staff is a combination of one treble clef staff and one bass clef staff. Most of the time, the treble clef staff is played by the right hand, and the bass clef staff is played by the left hand.
Example of a treble clef in a grand staff in a famous work: Frédéric Chopin's Nocturne opus 27 n°2 in D flat major:
Dear readers, if you have examples of manuscripts or scores with this special G-clef, don't hesitate to let me know, contact me please. [/p]
G-clef or treble clef?
G-clef is a synonym for treble clef.
Relation between treble clef and bass clef
The relation between treble clef and bass clef is very simple: The C note below the staff in treble clef is the same music note that the C note above the staff in bass clef.
Evolution of the treble clef symbol
In the book A history of music by Charles Villiers Stanford and Cecil Forsyth, a representation of evolution of the G-clef is exposed (source):
Key signatures in treble 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 treble clef:
Funny tricks to recognize music note positions with a treble clef
With a treble clef staff, the music notes on lines are E G B D F and you can remember them with the phrase Every Good Boy Does Fine
An with a treble clef staff, the music notes in space are F A C E and you can remember them with the word FACE
Another kind of G-clef, the French violin clef
This clef is no longer used, but it was in the 17th and 18th century, and particularly for the violin in French music. This G-clef is the equivalent of the bass clef transposed up two octaves.
The French violin clef indicates the position of the G note as being placed on the first line of the staff:
learn to read treble clef with fun
[p]With this game, you will learn to read treble clef with fun:
Test your knowledge
The treble clef set the position of the:
The treble clef set the position of the G note on the staff
A note
B note
C note
D note
E note
F note
G note
What does the number 8 written above the treble clef do?
All music notes will sound one octave higher with a treble clef with an upper 8.
one octave lower
one octave higher
nothing else matters
What does the number 8 written below the treble clef do?
All music notes will sound one octave lower with a 8 below the treble clef.
