Theory Basics To Get Started
Here are some basic music theory terms that are used frequently. This is a good place to start thinking about music theory.
Clefs
A clef is a musical symbol that is found on the left side of the musical staff. It indicates which lines and spaces represent the pitches. There are many kinds of clefs. Here you will find the two most used clefs: treble clef and bass clef.
Treble Clef
The treble clef is known as the "G clef". It is a stylized "G" shape which encircles the line reprenting the pitch G. The treble clef is frequently the first clef learned. Its staff represents the higher pitches of music.
Bass Clef
The bass clef is also known as the "F Clef" because it wraps around and has the dots surrounding the pitch F below middle C. Its staff represents lower pitches in music.
Staff
The musical staff is a series of lines and the spaces that represent different musical pitches. The higher the line or space the higher the pitch. The lower the line or space, the lower the pitch. See the pitches page to see the corresponding pitch names.
Grand Staff
When the Treble Clef and Bass Clef staves are joined together by a bracket, it is called the grand staff. It is commonly used in piano music. There is one note that resides in the middle of these staves known as middle C.
Middle C
Middle C is often the first note learned on the piano. It is called middle C because it is found in the middle of the grand staff between the treble and bass staffs as seen above.
