Learning the Language

Memorizing a few easy words or phrases can help you remember where notes fall on the treble and bass clefs, which is an important first step in learning to sight-read. One popular phrase is (starting on the bottom line of the treble clef staff) Every Good Boy Does Fine, which represents E, G, B, D, and F, shown in 1a. For spaces on the treble clef, the word FACE (bottom to top) does the trick. On the bass clef, the lines go G, B, D, F, and A from bottom to top, and the spaces are A, C, E, and G, also from bottom to top. Try coming up with your own words and sentences that will help you remember these notes. Once you have these devices down, you can practice by writing out 20 or so random notes on the staff, and then having a friend point at them one at a time. Drawing up flash cards with music notation on one side and the note name on the other can also help.

Almost all the time you see a treble clef, you’ll use your right hand, and the same goes for the left hand and the bass clef. The right hand fingers are counted from 1 to 5, starting with the thumb as 1. The left hand is also numbered from 1–5, again starting with the thumb as the first finger. 1b shows where your fingers fall on the staff when you play in D minor. In more advanced songs like “Around About Way,” you may be required to read music in both the treble and bass clefs — for the same hand. 1c shows the same melodic riff (adapted from the melody of “Around About Way”) notated in treble and one octave lower in the bass clef.