Treble clef notes
Lines: E G B D F. Spaces: F A C E. Learn them with the chart, then drill until you can name any note in under two seconds.
Treble clef notes chart
Mnemonics that work
- Lines, E G B D F: “Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge” or “Elvis’s Guitar Broke Down Friday”.
- Spaces, F A C E: spells “FACE”, which is in the space.
Mnemonics get you started, but reading fluently means recognising a note instantly. Two faster tricks are landmark notes and intervals. Memorise a few anchors, such as G4 (where the clef curls), middle C (first ledger line below) and high G (the space above the top line), then read nearby notes as steps and skips from them.
Ledger lines
Notes above or below the staff sit on short extra lines called ledger lines. Keep counting in the same line–space pattern: the first ledger line below the treble staff is C4 (middle C), the space below it is B3, and the first ledger line above is A5.
New to notation altogether? Start with how to read sheet music. Reading the left hand of the piano too? Learn the bass clef notes, then put both to work in sight-reading practice.
Questions
What are the notes of the treble clef lines?
From the bottom line up: E, G, B, D, F (E4, G4, B4, D5, F5). A common mnemonic is “Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge”.
What are the notes in the treble clef spaces?
From the bottom space up: F, A, C, E, which spell the word FACE (F4, A4, C5, E5).
Where is middle C on the treble clef?
Middle C (C4) sits on the first ledger line below the treble staff.
Why is the treble clef called the G clef?
The treble clef grew out of a stylised letter G. Its inner curl wraps around the second line from the bottom, marking that line as the G above middle C (G4).
Which instruments read treble clef?
Violin, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, the right hand of the piano, guitar (sounding an octave lower), and soprano and alto voices, among others.