Bass clef notes

The bass clef is the F clef. Its two dots sit either side of the fourth line from the bottom, and that line is F — the F below middle C.

Lines and spaces

Lines, bottom to top: G B D F A. Spaces, bottom to top: A C E G.

Notice that the spaces do not spell a word this time. That is a large part of why people find the bass clef harder — the treble mnemonic did a lot of quiet work.

The relationship to treble clef

This is the thing that trips up everyone who learned treble first: the same staff position means a different note.

The bottom line of the treble staff is E. The bottom line of the bass staff is G. If you read bass clef by mentally shifting from treble, you will be slow forever, because you are running a conversion on every note.

The way out is to learn the bass clef from its own anchor — the F the clef marks, and middle C sitting one ledger line above the staff.

Which instruments use it

Cello, double bass, bassoon, trombone, tuba, bass guitar, timpani, and the left hand of piano music. Any voice or instrument that lives below middle C.