Notation | Definition |
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Seven letters of the alphabet are used to name notes in music:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G |
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Staff |
Musical notes are written on and between five parallel lines called a staff. |
Treble Clef |
The Treble clef or G clef is used for violin music. It also is used by the viola and cello when the notes are in a higher range than the tenor and bass clefs. |
Alto Clef |
The Alto clef is the most frequently used clef in viola music. Notice how the clef curves in the middle to point to the note middle C. |
Bass Clef |
The Bass clef (or F clef) is the most frequently used clef in cello music. The two dots surround the line F. |
Tenor Clef |
The Tenor clef is used for cello music with notes in a range higher than notes found in the bass clef. The middle pointer of this clef points to middle C (the second line from the top of the staff). |
Notes on the lines Memory tip for notes written on the lines: use each note as the first letter of the words in the sentence: Every Good Boy Does Fine. |
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Notes in the spaces Memory tip for notes written in the spaces: these letters spell the word: F A C E. |
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Notes above the staff Notes which extend above and below the staff are written on ledger lines & spaces. |
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Notes below the staff | |
Consecutive letter names of violin notes, beginning with the violin's open G string: |
Notation | Definition |
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Staffs are divided by bars into measures. | |
A thick double bar is a final ending and indicates the end of a section of music. | |
Time Signature |
The top number in a time signature shows the number of beats that are in each measure. The bottom number shows what type of note gets each beat. For example, a time signature of 3/4 indicates each measure contains three quarter notes. |
A double bar with two dots is a repeat marking, and indicates the music in between the repeat signs should be repeated. | |
If there is only one repeat sign with the dots facing to the left, go back to the beginning and play the entire section of music again. | |
First and second endings should be played as follows: play the first ending the first time through the music, repeat to the beginning of the section, then skip over the first ending and play the second ending. | |
D.C. al Fine | D.C. al Fine means go back to the beginning, and end at the Fine marking. (D.C. is an abbreviation for “da capo”, and means “from the beginning” and Fine means "end"). |
D.C. al Coda | D.C. al Coda means go back to the beginning of the piece, play to the “Coda” sign: , then jump to the Coda section to finish the piece. |
D.S. al Fine | D.S. al Fine means go back to the sign, and end at the Fine marking (D.S. is an abbreviation for “dal segno”, and means “the sign”). |
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