music-glossary: clef
1.55 clef
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ES: clave, I: chiave, F: clé, clef, D: Schlüssel, Notenschlüssel, NL:
sleutel, DK: nøgle, S: klav, FI: avain, nuottiavain.
The clef indicates which lines of the staff correspond to which
pitches. The three clef symbols in common use are:
[image src="" alt="[image of music]" text="image of music" ]
Imagine a large staff of 11 lines centered on middle C, sometimes
called a âgrand staffâ, with the bottom line representing low G and the
top line high F:
[image src="" alt="[image of music]" text="image of music" ]
Staves of five lines are usually used, and the clef superimposed on
them indicates which five lines have been selected from this grand
staff. For example, the treble or G clef indicates that the top five
lines have been selected:
[image src="" alt="[image of music]" text="image of music" ]
The âcurlâ of the G clef is centered on the line that represents the
pitch G.
In the same way, the bass or F clef indicates that the bottom five
lines have been selected from the grand staff, and the alto or C clef
indicates the middle five lines have been selected. This relationship
is shown below, where the notes show an arpeggio on a C major chord.
[image src="" alt="[image of music]" text="image of music" ]
See also
........
C clef, F clef, G clef.
Info Catalog
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