Note NamesBass clef notes
The bass clef is the lower staff in piano music and the home of cello, bass guitar, trombone, bassoon and tuba. The notes are shifted from the treble clef, which is why it feels hard at first.
The lines: G B D F A
From the bottom line up, the lines are G B D F A: Good Boys Do Fine Always.
The spaces: A C E G
The spaces, bottom to top, are A C E G: All Cows Eat Grass.
Why it is called the F clef
The bass clef is an old letter F. Its two dots sit either side of the fourth line, and that line is F (the F below middle C). Find the dots, call that line F, and step from there.
Middle C and the ledger lines
Middle C is on the first ledger line above the bass staff, the same note as the ledger line below the treble staff. That shared C is what joins the two staves of piano music.
The treble trap
Most people learn treble first, then read bass clef notes as if they were treble. Every bass clef note is named two letters up from the same spot on a treble staff: the bottom line is G, not E. If you catch yourself saying “E” on the bottom line, add two letters. Landmarks help: low G on the bottom line, F between the dots, and middle C just above the staff.
Questions
What are the notes on the bass clef lines?
From bottom to top: G B D F A. A common memory trick is “Good Boys Do Fine Always”.
What are the notes in the bass clef spaces?
From bottom to top: A C E G, often remembered as “All Cows Eat Grass”.
Where is middle C on the bass clef?
On the first ledger line above the staff.
Why is the bass clef called the F clef?
Its two dots sit either side of the fourth line, which is the F below middle C.