Reading the Bass Clef

Reading the Bass Clef

This tutorial will show you how to read the notes on the Bass Clef.

This method is similar to the method shown for reading the notes on the Treble Clef.

The basic idea is to memorize the names of the lines, then figure out the spaces based on what line they rest on.

First, let’s look at all the notes on the bass clef.

The notes resemble the regular alphabet except for a few key differences.

1) The music alphabet only goes up to letter G.
2) After G, the notes start over again on letter A.

For the Bass Clef, the first note we memorize is middle C.

This note is easy to recognize because it sits on top of the staff and has a black line poking through it like a toothpick called a “ledger line”.

Next we memorize the lines with the sentence Great Big Ducks Fly Away.

To learn the spaces, we just name the line that the note rests upon, then go up one letter in the alphabet. For example:

Now you know how to read the notes on the bass clef. Go and practice your skills on UltraMusician.com.