# Read treble, bass, alto and tenor clef

Canonical: https://arcosounds.com/learn/clefs

A clef assigns pitches to staff positions. Start with your instrument’s usual clef, then add others when your music needs them. These free references include staff maps, original exercises and answers; no account is required.

## [Treble clef](https://arcosounds.com/learn/clefs/treble)

Treble clef anchors G4 on the second line from the bottom. Its five lines read E4, G4, B4, D5, F5; its spaces read F4, A4, C5, E5.

Start here for violin. Find the open A string as A4 in the second space, then locate the open E string as E5 in the top space. A note name tells you the pitch; it does not choose a string or finger for you.

## [Bass clef](https://arcosounds.com/learn/clefs/bass)

Bass clef anchors F3 on the fourth line from the bottom. Its lines read G2, B2, D3, F3, A3; its spaces read A2, C3, E3, G3.

For cello these octave names match sounding pitch. A conventional double-bass part sounds an octave lower than written: written E2 sounds E1. Use this page for reading written notes, and the bass fingering chart for sounding-pitch references.

## [Alto clef](https://arcosounds.com/learn/clefs/alto)

Alto clef places middle C, C4, on the middle line. Its lines read F3, A3, C4, E4, G4; its spaces read G3, B3, D4, F4.

Alto is the usual viola clef. Notice that open D4 lies in the third space and open A4 sits just above the staff. Use these anchors alongside middle C instead of translating every note into treble clef first.

## [Tenor clef](https://arcosounds.com/learn/clefs/tenor)

Tenor clef places middle C, C4, on the fourth line from the bottom. Its lines read D3, F3, A3, C4, E4; its spaces read E3, G3, B3, D4.

Cellists meet tenor clef when a passage would need many ledger lines in bass clef. Learn its C4 anchor directly. These are written pitches; changing the clef does not itself transpose the music or prescribe a playing position.

Count every line and space when moving by step. Octave numbers change at C. Read written pitches first; conventional double-bass notation sounds one octave lower.

[Practise treble, bass and alto in the note quiz](https://arcosounds.com/tools/note-reading)

Tenor-clef practice is provided as written exercises, not as a quiz mode.

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/learn/clefs