How to Read Piano Notes?

To play the piano, you need to learn about 2 “clefs.” They are signs which basically tell you whether to play high notes or low notes. They are the Treble Clef and Bass Clef.

Usually, you play the notes in the treble clef with your right hand. These are the higher notes. Play the notes in the bass clef with your left hand. These are the lower notes.

Music is written on lines and spaces – this is called the staff. When going up through the musical alphabet (like A, B, C, D), you alternate line – space – line – space.

For example: A = line, B = space, C = line, D = space. This is for the notes that are right next to each other on the piano keyboard.

To learn where the notes are on the staff just by looking, you can learn some sayings. This is the easiest way to begin to read piano notes. Let’s start with the treble clef.

Spaces – Treble Clef

The letters for the spaces on the treble clef form a word: FACE. F is the lowest space on the treble clef, and E is the highest.

Lines – Treble Clef

The letters on the lines from lowest to highest are E G B D F. The saying that can use to remember this order is: “Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge.” Feel free to make up one that you like.

Notice that the lowest line – E – is followed by the lowest space –F.

Spaces - Bass Clef

Now for the bass clef. The sayings I use to remember the lines and spaces for the bass clef have to do with animals. For the spaces we can use the saying, “All Cows Eat Grass.”

Lines - Bass Clef

For the lines in the bass clef, we can use the saying, “Great Big Ducks Fly Away.”