Treble Clef Notes: Chart, Memory Tricks, Quiz and Worksheet
The treble clef, also called the G clef, marks the note G4 on line 2 of the staff. From the bottom, the five lines are E G B D F and the four spaces are F A C E. Middle C sits on one ledger line below the staff. The treble clef is used for higher sounds, such as the piano’s right hand, violin, flute and recorder.
Updated · By the Classfern Music Department
Works in the UK and the US. This version uses US words and grades (measure, staff, quarter note, elementary school); the UK version uses bar, stave, crotchet and Key Stages. · UK version of this page
Key facts
- The treble clef is the G clef: it marks G4 on line 2 from the bottom, where the curl wraps round.
- Lines from the bottom: E G B D F. Spaces: F A C E.
- Middle C (C4) is one ledger line below the staff.
- The five lines and four spaces hold nine notes, from E4 to F5. Ledger lines extend the staff up and down.
- Played by: piano (right hand), violin, flute, recorder, oboe, clarinet and more.
What are the notes of the treble clef?
The treble clef lines are E, G, B, D, F from the bottom, and the spaces are F, A, C, E. Together they run in alphabet order: E (bottom line), F (bottom space), G, and so on up to F on the top line.
Music only uses seven letter names, A to G, and then they start again. Moving up one step on the staff (line to space, or space to line) moves up one letter. That is why you only need one or two “anchor” notes: from G4 on line 2 you can count up or down to any note.
How do you remember treble clef notes?
Use a sentence for the lines and a word or sentence for the spaces. For the treble clef lines (E G B D F) try “Every Good Boy Does Fine”, and for the spaces, the spaces spell the word FACE.
- Lines: Every Good Boy Does Fine, or Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge.
- Spaces: F A C E spells “FACE” – the face in the space.
- Landmarks: learn three notes by sight – middle C (one ledger line below), G (line 2, where the clef curls) and the top-line F – and count from the nearest one. Readers who rely only on a sentence are slower than readers who know landmarks.
Where is middle C in the treble clef?
Middle C sits on one short ledger line just below the treble staff. It is the same note as the middle C written above the bass staff, which is how the two staves join up in piano music (the grand staff).
Treble clef notes chart
Every note from C4 to C6, where it sits, and a button to hear it on the piano.
| Note | Where it sits | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| C C6 | On 2 ledger lines above | |
| B B5 | Above 1 ledger line above | |
| A A5 | On 1 ledger line above | |
| G G5 | Just above the staff | |
| F F5 | Line 5 | |
| E E5 | Space 4 | |
| D D5 | Line 4 | |
| C C5 | Space 3 | |
| B B4 | Line 3 | |
| A A4 | Space 2 | |
| G G4 | Line 2 | |
| F F4 | Space 1 | |
| E E4 | Line 1 | |
| D D4 | Just below the staff | |
| C C4 (middle C) | On 1 ledger line below |
Sounds are made in your browser. This tool never uses the microphone, and nothing is recorded, saved or sent.
Which instruments use the treble clef?
The treble clef is for higher sounds. Piano (right hand), Violin, Flute and many more read it.
Full list: piano (right hand), violin, flute, recorder, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, guitar (sounds an octave lower), ukulele, glockenspiel and xylophone, singers (tenors read it an octave lower). Some instruments, such as the cello, bassoon and trombone, switch to other clefs for their highest notes.
When do children learn the treble clef?
Many US elementary music programs introduce the treble clef in grades 3 to 5, often with recorder, and band or orchestra students learn it as soon as they start an instrument that uses it.
The National Core Arts Standards for music ask students to read and perform using standard notation as they move through the grades; middle school band and choir build fluent reading. For a full set of beginner lessons, try Classfern’s free treble clef lesson in the Learn to read music course.
Treble clef notes quiz: name the note
Marked by Classfern Ten notes on the treble clef staff. Pick the letter name. Choose “with ledger lines” when you are ready for a challenge. Questions are made fresh each time by the Classfern lesson engine; your answers stay on this device.
Treble clef worksheet maker (printable)
Self-assessed 24 notes to name, with an answer key that folds away. Every sheet is different, so a class can swap and check each other’s work. Print it on A4 or US Letter.
Treble clef facts quiz
Marked by Classfern 5 multiple-choice questions on the Classfern lesson engine. Your answers stay on this device.
Classfern’s free treble clef page is part of the Classfern Music Department at lessonplanner.info. The pictures are drawn with the same music drawing code as the Classfern reading course.
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