Note Reading Quick Reference

Pin this next to your keyboard. Everything you need to read music notation at a glance.

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Treble Clef (Right Hand)

The treble clef (also called the G clef) is used for higher notes, typically played by the right hand.

Lines (bottom to top)

 ___F___   "Every Good Boy Does Fine"
 ___D___
 ___B___
 ___G___
 ___E___

Line	Note	Mnemonic Word
1st (bottom)	E	Every
2nd	G	Good
3rd	B	Boy
4th	D	Does
5th (top)	F	Fine

Spaces (bottom to top)

    E
 _______
    C
 _______
    A
 _______
    F
 _______

The spaces spell F - A - C - E from bottom to top.

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Bass Clef (Left Hand)

The bass clef (also called the F clef) is used for lower notes, typically played by the left hand.

Lines (bottom to top)

 ___A___   "Good Boys Do Fine Always"
 ___F___
 ___D___
 ___B___
 ___G___

Line	Note	Mnemonic Word
1st (bottom)	G	Good
2nd	B	Boys
3rd	D	Do
4th	F	Fine
5th (top)	A	Always

Spaces (bottom to top)

    G
 _______
    E
 _______
    C
 _______
    A
 _______

A - C - E - G from bottom to top: “All Cows Eat Grass”

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Middle C

Middle C sits on a ledger line between the two staves:

  Treble Clef:       Below the staff on a ledger line
  Bass Clef:         Above the staff on a ledger line

• In treble clef: one ledger line BELOW the staff
• In bass clef: one ledger line ABOVE the staff
• Both point to the same key on the keyboard — the C nearest the center

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Ledger Lines

Notes that go beyond the 5-line staff use short extra lines called ledger lines.

Above Treble Clef

Ledger Position	Note
1st space above	G
1st line above	A
2nd space above	B
2nd line above	C (high C)

Below Treble Clef

Ledger Position	Note
1st space below	D
1st line below	C (Middle C)
2nd space below	B

Above Bass Clef

Ledger Position	Note
1st space above	B
1st line above	C (Middle C)
2nd space above	D

Below Bass Clef

Ledger Position	Note
1st space below	F
1st line below	E
2nd space below	D
2nd line below	C (low C)

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Note Values

How long each note is held (in 4/4 time):

Note	Symbol	Beats	What It Looks Like
Whole Note	o	4 beats	Open oval, no stem
Half Note	d	2 beats	Open oval with stem
Quarter Note	♩	1 beat	Filled oval with stem
Eighth Note	♪	1/2 beat	Filled oval, stem, one flag
Sixteenth Note	♬	1/4 beat	Filled oval, stem, two flags
Dotted Half Note	d.	3 beats	Half note + dot (adds half the value)
Dotted Quarter Note	♩.	1.5 beats	Quarter note + dot

The dot rule: A dot after any note adds half of that note’s value.

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Rest Values

Every note has a matching rest (silence for the same duration):

Rest Name	Beats (in 4/4)	What It Looks Like
Whole Rest	4 beats	Filled rectangle hanging from line 4
Half Rest	2 beats	Filled rectangle sitting on line 3
Quarter Rest	1 beat	Zigzag squiggle shape
Eighth Rest	1/2 beat	Slanted line with one flag
Sixteenth Rest	1/4 beat	Slanted line with two flags

Memory tip: The whole rest “hangs” (heavier, longer). The half rest “sits” (lighter, shorter).

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Time Signatures

Signature	Meaning	Feel	Count
4/4	4 quarter-note beats per measure	Strong-weak-medium-weak	”1 - 2 - 3 - 4”
3/4	3 quarter-note beats per measure	Strong-weak-weak (waltz)	“1 - 2 - 3”
2/4	2 quarter-note beats per measure	Strong-weak (march)	“1 - 2”
6/8	6 eighth-note beats per measure	Two groups of 3 (compound)	“1-2-3, 4-5-6”

Common Time: 4/4 is sometimes written as a large “C” symbol.

Top number = how many beats per measure. Bottom number = which note value gets one beat (4 = quarter note, 8 = eighth note).

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Common Notation Symbols

Symbol	Name	Meaning
||: and :||	Repeat Signs	Go back and play the section again
1.____ / 2.____	1st & 2nd Endings	Play 1st ending on first pass, skip to 2nd ending on repeat
D.C. al Fine	Da Capo al Fine	Go back to the very beginning, play until you see “Fine”
D.S. al Fine	Dal Segno al Fine	Go back to the segno sign, play until “Fine”
𝄐	Fermata	Hold the note longer than written (performer decides)
tie (arc)	Tie	Connects two notes of the same pitch — hold for combined duration
slur (arc)	Slur	Connects different notes — play smoothly (legato)
8va	Ottava	Play one octave higher than written

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Reference Librarian — Piano School 20-Hour Beginner Course