Ledger lines on the treble stave

Recap: the two clefs

Treble clef: lines E G B D F, spaces F A C E; the clef curls round G. Bass clef: lines G B D F A, spaces A C E G; the dots sit either side of F. Middle C sits on one ledger line below the treble stave, one ledger line above the bass stave. A sharp raises a note a semitone, a flat lowers it, and a natural cancels them.

Above and below the stave

Short ledger lines carry the stave on upwards or downwards. Keep counting a letter for each line and space. Grade 2 goes up to two ledger lines above and below.

Counting from middle C

Middle C is a landmark on both staves. To find a note, count letters up or down from it. The first G above middle C is five letters up: the second line.

Remember

• Ledger lines carry the stave on, up to two above and below.
• Count a letter for each line and space.
• Middle C is the landmark: count from it.