# Alto clef

Source: https://arcosounds.com/glossary/alto-clef
Also known as: viola clef, C clef

**Alto clef is a C clef that places middle C on the middle line of the staff, and it is the standard clef for the viola.**

The C clef is movable, and where its centre points is where middle C sits. Placed on the third line it is alto clef; placed on the fourth it is tenor clef. Alto clef exists because the viola's range falls awkwardly between treble and bass, written in either, most viola music would sit on ledger lines. Alto clef keeps it on the staff.

The line notes are F, A, C, E, G from bottom to top, and the spaces are G, B, D, F. The single most important habit for a new violist is learning these as their own set rather than transposing from treble clef; the transposition trick works for a few weeks and then permanently limits reading speed.

Alto clef also appears occasionally in trombone and bassoon parts, and in older orchestral scores for other instruments.

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/glossary/alto-clef