Introduction to bass clef6th Grade General Music

Lower voices, instruments, and parts of instruments, play in the bass clefLOW VOICES (These are all male, changed voices):

tenor, baritone, bass

LOW BRASS: trombone, baritone horn, tuba, euphonium

LOW WOODWIND: bassoon

LOW STRINGS: cello, string bass (aka double bass), bass guitar

The left side of the piano is in bass clef. Most of the time, pianists read notes for the left hand in bass clef.

The notes of the piano get lower as you go to the left

The Musical Alphabet

• The musical alphabet only has 7 letters in it.

• A, B, C, D, E, F, G

Let’s look at the “line” notes of the bass clef

The 1st line note of the bass clef is “G”

G

The 2nd line note of the bass clef is “B”

B

The 3rd line note of the bass clef is “D”

D

The 4th line note of the bass clef is “F”

F

The 5th line note of the bass clef is “A”

A

You can memorize the line notes of the bass clef with this sentence:

Good burritos don't fall apart

G(Good)

B(burritos)

D(don’t)

F(fall)

A(apart)

In between the “line” notes are “space” notes

The 1st space note is “A”

A

The 2nd space note is “C”

C

The 3rd space note is “E”

E

The 4th space note is “G”

G

You can memorize the space notes in the bass clef with the sentence

“All cows eat grass”

G(grass)

A(All)

C(cows)

E(eat)

You can even spell out words in the bass clef.If you identify the notes reading from left to right,

they make words.

Can you figure out the words?

You can even spell out words in the bass clef.If you identify the notes reading from left to right,

they make words.

B E A D C A G E B A G G A G E

(bead) (cage) (baggage)