MetronoTuner
Guitar Standard
en

Install it as an app

It opens full screen, like an app, and works offline.

  1. Tap Share in the browser bar.
  2. Scroll down and tap “Add to Home Screen” .
  3. Tap “Add”. The icon shows up on your home screen.

Bass clef notes

The notes on the lines of the bass clef, from bottom to top, are G, B, D, F, and A; in the spaces, A, C, E, and G. The bass clef marks the 4th line (the one between the two dots) as F: from there, each line and space is the next note.

Note reading practice

Level
Answer with
Options

Staff: what note is this?

Pick a level and a way to answer, then tap Start. Each round has 10 notes.

On a computer: letters C to B or numbers 1 to 7; # sharp, - flat, 0 natural.

The notes of the bass clef

On the lines
Bass clef, notes on the lines: G2, B2, D3, F3, A3GBDFA
In the spaces
Bass clef, notes in the spaces: A2, C3, E3, G3ACEG
Below the staff
Bass clef, notes below the staff: C2, D2, E2, F2CDEF
Above the staff
Bass clef, notes above the staff: B3, C4, D4, E4BCDE

Middle C (C4) sits on the 1st ledger line above the staff: the same note as the 1st ledger line below the treble clef.

Every bass clef note, from low to high
Note Where it sits
C2 2nd ledger line below
D2 below the 1st ledger line
E2 1st ledger line below
F2 just below the staff
G2 1st line
A2 1st space
B2 2nd line
C3 2nd space
D3 3rd line
E3 3rd space
F3 4th line
G3 4th space
A3 5th line
B3 just above the staff
C4 1st ledger line above
D4 above the 1st ledger line
E4 2nd ledger line above

Mnemonics

  • Lines, from the bottom: Good Boys Do Fine Always (G, B, D, F, and A). Spaces: All Cows Eat Grass (A, C, E, and G).
  • Landmarks: the two dots of the clef hug the 4th line, which is F; middle C is on the ledger line above. Find the nearest landmark and count one note per line and space.
  • If you already read treble clef: in the bass clef every line and space is two notes higher than in the treble clef (the 1st line is G instead of E).

Who reads bass clef

Double bass and electric bass (both sound an octave lower than written), cello, bassoon, trombone, tuba, the bass and baritone voices and the piano’s left hand.

See also

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes of the bass clef?

On the lines, from bottom to top: G, B, D, F, and A. In the spaces: A, C, E, and G. Middle C sits on the 1st ledger line above the staff.

Why does the bass clef have two dots?

The dots sit in the spaces on either side of the 4th line and point at it: the note on that line is F. The shape grew out of a stylized letter F, which is why it is also called the F clef.

Where is middle C in the bass clef?

On the 1st ledger line above the staff (C4). It is the same C as the ledger line below the treble clef, which is why piano music joins the two clefs.

How do I read bass clef if I know treble clef?

Read the note as if it were treble clef and go up two notes: the 1st line, which would be E, is G; the 1st space, which would be F, is A. With time, read directly from the landmarks.

Does bass guitar use bass clef?

Yes, and it sounds an octave lower than written, like the double bass. That is why the lowest bass notes show up with ledger lines below the staff.