Learn the
Note Names: The Bass Clef
The bass clef (pronounced “base,” even though it is spelled the same way as a type of fish!) is another common clef used in music. Like the treble clef, the bass clef is used by many orchestral and band instruments, the piano, and low singing voices. Also called the F clef, the bass clef is used to designate lower sounding pitches. It is used by the cello, euphonium, double bass (also called string bass), bass guitar, bassoon and contrabassoon, trombone, baritone horn, tuba, and timpani.
Harp and piano play in both the treble and bass clef at the same time, so music for those instruments is notated on a “grand staff” which is a combination of the treble staff on top and the bass staff on the bottom.
The bass clef
is also called the F clef because it curves around the second line from the top
of the staff, on which F is notated. In the
same way, the treble clef curves around the second line from the bottom of the treble
clef on which G is notated, so the treble clef can also be called the G
clef. Remembering these staff letter names
can help new note readers remember where the treble G and bass F notes are
found.
Click here to try the bass clef version of this game that uses note names to spell words (switch to “Bass” in top left corner of the screen).
The bass clef (pronounced “base,” even though it is spelled the same way as a type of fish!) is another common clef used in music. Like the treble clef, the bass clef is used by many orchestral and band instruments, the piano, and low singing voices. Also called the F clef, the bass clef is used to designate lower sounding pitches. It is used by the cello, euphonium, double bass (also called string bass), bass guitar, bassoon and contrabassoon, trombone, baritone horn, tuba, and timpani.
Harp and piano play in both the treble and bass clef at the same time, so music for those instruments is notated on a “grand staff” which is a combination of the treble staff on top and the bass staff on the bottom.
The Grand
Staff:
Treble or G Clef and Bass or F Clef:
The notes of
the bass clef are the same as those for the treble clef. The first seven letters of the alphabet,
repeating, starting over at A: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D etc.
Bass Clef
Notes:
Click here to try the bass clef version of this game that uses note names to spell words (switch to “Bass” in top left corner of the screen).
For more
information about the bass clef, click here.
Click here to practice note
naming using free printable note naming worksheets.
Click here to print out
free blank staff paper to practice drawing the bass clef and notes.
For
elementary school students, click here for a lesson on the names of the notes in the bass clef on Khan Academy.
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