Chapter 8. C-clef

Theory

Tip: before starting this chapter, please first study Chapter 1. Natural Notes through Chapter 3. Clefs!

In this chapter, you'l learn to read C-clef notes. I explain what smart notes are. You’ll learn to read those notes first. You'll do exercises to learn to read smart notes quickly and flawlessly. I'll explain how you can use smart notes to read the other notes. You will do different exercises in which you learn, step by step, to read all the notes.

The C-clef is rarely employed, and is not used for the piano. It is used for the viola, and for the high tones of the bassoon, cello and double bass. If the C-clef is not used for your instrument, you can skip this chapter.

1. The C-clef

The C-clef can appear in two different places on the staff.
The middle line is Middle C – here, the C-clef is called the alto clef.
The second line down is Middle C – here, the C-clef is called the tenor clef.

The alto clef is used the most; the tenor clef, less so.

2. The alto clef

In order to read all the notes, we first confine ourselves to eight different notes. These notes are divided in ascending order over the grand staff.
These are the alto clefs 'smart notes'.

In order to learn how to read all notes well, it is important to be able to read the smart notes quickly – and flawlessly! In addition, smart notes need to be played rapidly and correctly on the instrument. Study the smart notes carefully, and repeat the relevant exercises a number of times.

1 The first smart note is Middle C.

2 The second smart note is the note on the uppermost line: G.

3 The third smart note is the note on the lowermost line: F.

4 The fourth smart note is the C above Middle C.

5 The fifth smart note is the C below Middle C.

Note Reading exercise 7a: practise reading alto clef smart notes

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3. Alto clef: reading all notes

In order to read all the notes, we make use of the smart notes.

1 The first smart note is Middle C.
One note higher is D. Two notes higher is E.
One note lower is B. Two notes lower is A.

2 The second smart note is the note on the uppermost line: G.
One note higher is A. One note lower is F.

3 The third smart note is the note on the lowermost line: F.
One note lower is E. One note higher is G.

4 The fourth smart note is the C above Middle C.
One note lower is B. One note higher is D. Two notes higher is E.

5 The fifth smart note is the C below Middle C.
One note higher is D. One note lower is B. Two notes lower is A.

Note Reading exercise 7b: practise reading all alto clef notes

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4. The tenor clef

In order to read all the notes, we first confine ourselves to eight different notes. These notes are divided in ascending order over the grand staff.
These are the tenor clefs 'smart notes'.