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Terms:

staff
ledger lines
G clef, F clef and C clef
treble clef, the treble staff
bass clef, the bass staff
movable clef
alto clef
tenor clef
other clefs

Music is written on a staff. The most common type of staff consists of five equally-spaced, parallel, horizontal lines. Pitches can be indicated by placing notes on the lines or within the spaces between the lines. The staff can be extended by means of ledger lines, short, horizontal lines added above or below the staff. The following example illustrates the staff and the placement of a note on its lines and spaces. Click the arrows to move the note up and down the staff. Ledger lines will appear when the note is moved outside the staff.

Example 2-1

(Although the staff can be extended indefinitely by ledger lines, you will only be expected to be able to read notes up to three ledger lines above or below the staff.)

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