Staff and Clefs
Five-line staff
- Looks like
- A set of five horizontal lines with four spaces between them
- Asks for
- The five parallel lines and their spaces provide positions for written pitches.
Ledger line
- Looks like
- A short line above or below the staff
- Asks for
- Extends the staff for pitches above or below its five lines.
Treble clef
- Looks like
- A G clef curling around the second line
- Asks for
- Places G4 on the second line of the staff.
Bass clef
- Looks like
- An F clef whose two dots sit either side of the fourth line
- Asks for
- Places F3 on the fourth line of the staff.
Alto clef
- Looks like
- A C clef centered on the middle line
- Asks for
- Places middle C on the middle line; standard for viola.
Tenor clef
- Looks like
- A C clef centered on the fourth line
- Asks for
- Places middle C on the fourth line; used in upper cello and bassoon registers.
Percussion clef
- Looks like
- A pair of short thick vertical bars (or an open box)
- Asks for
- Indicates a staff assigned to unpitched percussion instruments.
Tablature
- Looks like
- The letters TAB at the start of a staff whose lines stand for strings
- Asks for
- Indicates instrumental strings and fret positions rather than standard staff pitches.
Octave treble clef
- Looks like
- A treble clef with a small 8 below it
- Asks for
- Notes sound an octave lower than written. Used for tenor voice and often for guitar.
Octave bass clef
- Looks like
- A bass clef with a small 8 below it
- Asks for
- Sounds an octave below the conventional bass-clef register.
Grand staff
- Looks like
- A treble and a bass staff joined by a brace
- Asks for
- Connects treble and bass staves, usually for keyboard notation.
Brace
- Looks like
- A curly bracket at the left of two staves
- Asks for
- Groups staves typically played by one keyboard or harp performer.
Bracket
- Looks like
- A straight bracket with curled ends at the left of several staves
- Asks for
- Groups related instrumental staves in a score.
System
- Looks like
- Group of staves
- Asks for
- All staves performed simultaneously across one horizontal span.
Barline
- Looks like
- Vertical line
- Asks for
- Separates measures in metered notation.
Double barline
- Looks like
- A pair of thin lines
- Asks for
- Marks a formal division, such as the end of a section.
Final barline
- Looks like
- Thin and thick lines
- Asks for
- Marks the end of a piece or movement.
Dashed barline
- Looks like
- Broken vertical line
- Asks for
- Provides a visual division without necessarily implying a full metrical boundary.
Measure number
- Looks like
- Number above staff
- Asks for
- Identifies a bar for rehearsal and navigation.
Courtesy clef
- Looks like
- Small clef
- Asks for
- Previews a clef change that takes effect on the following system.
Other chapters: Pitch and Accidentals · Note Values and Rests · Meter and Grouping · Articulation · Dynamics and Expression · Tempo and Navigation · Ornaments · Keyboard, Guitar and Ensemble · Jazz and Contemporary
Engraving styles differ between publishers and periods, and some signs change meaning with style or instrument.
Open the Music Symbols Atlas →