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Notation

Treble clef

The treble clef, also called the G clef, is placed at the start of the staff and fixes the second line from the bottom as G4. It is used for high registers: voice, violin, flute, trumpet and the right hand on the piano. Its curled centre circles the line of the note G4.

Sign
a stylised G
Note it fixes
G4 on the 2nd line from the bottom
Used for
voice, violin, flute, trumpet, right hand on the piano
Counterpart
bass clef

The key to G4

The curled centre of the treble clef circles the second line from the bottom and fixes it as G4, hence the name G clef. Everything else follows from this one fixing: every line and every space gets a note from it. Middle C (C4) lies in the treble clef on the first ledger line below the staff.

Lines and spaces

E G B D F F A C E

The five lines from the bottom: E, G, B, D, F. The four spaces from the bottom: F, A, C, E. The note G lies on the second line, which the clef encircles.

Mnemonics help at the beginning: for the lines from the bottom E–G–B–D–F, “Every Good Boy Does Fine”. The spaces from the bottom, F–A–C–E, spell the word “FACE”. The sayings are only scaffolding for the start. With a little practice you recognise the notes without them, just as you read letters.

The treble clef in practice

Guitar music is written in the treble clef, and the small 8 below the clef shows that it sounds an octave lower than written. This clef with the eight belongs to the octave clefs of the symbol library. On the piano the right hand is in the treble clef, the left in the bass clef.

Piano

Guitar

Practice: First learn only the five line notes with confidence, E–G–B–D–F, then the four space notes F–A–C–E. Take three or four reference notes as anchors, such as G4 and C4, from which you count at first. Five minutes a day bring more than an hour at the weekend. In the module Note Reading the app also measures your speed.

Common mistakes

  • Reading the wrong clef: The bass clef has different notes on the same lines.
  • Forgetting the guitar's octave: The small 8 shows that it sounds an octave lower.
  • Reading only through mnemonics: The goal is direct recognition.

Continue on Maikstrings

Reading music

Which line is which note? With mnemonics and octave registers.

Note Reading

Name notes in the treble clef, first between the lines, then with ledger lines.

Notation symbols

All clefs at a glance, including octave treble clefs.

Related terms

NoteNotationNote nameTone / notePitchScoreAccidental

Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026

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