Instructions
Hello, musician! This worksheet will help you learn about the most important building blocks for reading music. Read the information in each part carefully and then complete the fun activities that follow.
Part 1: The Music Staff
The staff (or stave) is the set of lines we write music on. It has 5 lines and 4 spaces. We always count the lines and spaces from the BOTTOM to the TOP.
Activity: On the staff below, write the correct number for each line and each space in the boxes provided.
[ ] ← Space
Line → [ ] ------------------------------------
[ ] ← Space
Line → [ ] ------------------------------------
[ ] ← Space
Line → [ ] ------------------------------------
[ ] ← Space
Line → [ ] ------------------------------------
Part 2: The Clefs
A clef is a symbol placed at the very beginning of the staff. It tells us which notes the lines and spaces represent. The two most common clefs are the Treble Clef and the Bass Clef.
- The Treble Clef is also called the G Clef because it curls around the 2nd line, which is the note G. It is used for high-pitched sounds.
- The Bass Clef is also called the F Clef because its two dots are on either side of the 4th line, which is the note F. It is used for low-pitched sounds.
Activity A: Match the clef to its other name. Draw a line connecting the correct pairs.
- Treble Clef
- Bass Clef
- F Clef
- G Clef
Activity B: Practice drawing the clefs.
1. Draw a Treble Clef on the staff below. Start your curl on the 2nd line from the bottom.
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
2. Draw a Bass Clef on the staff below. Make sure its two dots are above and below the 4th line.
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
Part 3: Ledger Lines
What happens when a note is too high or too low to fit on the staff? We use ledger lines! Ledger lines are short, extra lines drawn through a note, above or below the staff, to extend its range.
Activity: Follow the instructions to draw notes with ledger lines on the staves below. A "whole note" is just a circle: O
1. Draw a whole note (O) on the first ledger line below this treble staff.
& ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
2. Draw a whole note (O) on the first ledger line above this treble staff.
& ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
Part 4: Review Quiz
Circle the best answer for each question.
- How many lines does a music staff have?
A) 4 B) 5 C) 6
- The Bass Clef is also known as the:
A) G Clef B) C Clef C) F Clef
- You should always count the lines and spaces of the staff from:
A) Top to Bottom B) Bottom to Top C) The middle outwards
- What are the short, extra lines for notes above or below the staff called?
A) Extra Lines B) Clef Lines C) Ledger Lines
Answer Key
Part 1: The Music Staff
[ 4 ] ← Space
Line → [ 5 ] ------------------------------------
[ 3 ] ← Space
Line → [ 4 ] ------------------------------------
[ 2 ] ← Space
Line → [ 3 ] ------------------------------------
[ 1 ] ← Space
Line → [ 2 ] ------------------------------------
Line → [ 1 ] ------------------------------------
Part 2: The Clefs
Activity A:
1. Treble Clef → B. G Clef
2. Bass Clef → A. F Clef
Activity B:
1. The drawn Treble Clef should begin at the start of the staff, with its main curl centered on the 2nd line from the bottom.
2. The drawn Bass Clef should begin at the start of the staff, with its large dot on the 4th line from the bottom, and its two smaller dots in the spaces above and below the 4th line.
Part 3: Ledger Lines
1. The whole note (O) should be drawn just below the staff with one short horizontal line running through its middle.
&
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---O---
2. The whole note (O) should be drawn just above the staff with one short horizontal line running through its middle.
&
---O---
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Part 4: Review Quiz
- B) 5
- C) F Clef
- B) Bottom to Top
- C) Ledger Lines