Tap any note to hear it. Landmark notes are in color.
Every bass clef note in a list
| Note | Where it sits |
|---|---|
| E4 | E, on the second ledger line above the staff |
| D4 | D, just above the first ledger line |
| C4Middle C | C, on the first ledger line above the staff |
| B3 | B, just above the staff |
| A3 | A, on the top line |
| G3 | G, in the fourth space |
| F3Bass F | F, on the fourth line |
| E3 | E, in the third space |
| D3 | D, on the middle line |
| C3Bass C | C, in the second space |
| B2 | B, on the second line |
| A2 | A, in the first space |
| G2 | G, on the bottom line |
| F2 | F, just below the staff |
| E2 | E, on the first ledger line below the staff |
| D2 | D, just below the first ledger line |
| C2Low C | C, on the second ledger line below the staff |
Bass clef line notes: G B D F A
From the bottom up, the five lines of the bass clef are G, B, D, F and A. The usual way to remember them is Good Boys Do Fine Always. Any sentence with the same first letters works, such as Great Big Dogs Fight Animals.
Bass clef space notes: A C E G
From the bottom up, the four spaces are A, C, E and G. Remember them with All Cows Eat Grass.
Lines and spaces take turns, one letter apart: G A B C D E F G A from the bottom line to the top line.
Landmark notes in the bass clef
The bass clef grew out of a written letter F. Its two dots sit either side of the fourth line from the bottom and mark it as F, the F below middle C. That is why it is also called the F clef.
Learn these on sight and count the rest from the nearest one.
- Low C (C2): on the second ledger line below the staff.
- Bass C (C3): in the second space.
- Bass F (F3): on the fourth line, between the two dots of the bass clef.
- Middle C (C4): on the first ledger line above the staff.
Notes above and below the staff
Notes past the staff are written on ledger lines, short lines that carry the staff on for one note. They still take turns between line and space.
- Below the staff, F hangs just under the bottom line, E sits on the first ledger line, D hangs under that ledger line and low C sits on the second ledger line.
- Above the staff, B sits just on top of the top line, middle C sits on the first ledger line, D sits just above it and E sits on the second ledger line.
Bass clef notes quiz
Test yourself: one bass clef note at a time, as many as you can name in 60 seconds. Turn on ledger lines for the notes past the staff, and sharps and flats when those feel easy.
60 seconds. Name as many notes as you can.
Tap the letter, or type it on a keyboard.
Keep going
Learn the treble clef notes next, then put both together on the grand staff in the note reading trainer. To find each note on the keyboard, see the labeled piano keys. When single notes feel easy, move on to sight-reading practice, where notes come in short pieces at your level.
Knowing the bass clef is step one. Reading music is the next.
MasterPiano gives you new music to read at your level and listens as you play, through a MIDI keyboard or your device's microphone, marking each note right or wrong.
Start freeQuestions
What are the notes on the lines of the bass clef?
From the bottom line up: G, B, D, F and A. Remember them with Good Boys Do Fine Always.
What are the space notes in the bass clef?
From the bottom space up: A, C, E and G. Remember them with All Cows Eat Grass.
Why is the bass clef called the F clef?
It grew out of a written letter F, and its two dots sit either side of the fourth line from the bottom to mark it as F, the F below middle C.
Where is middle C in the bass clef?
Middle C sits on the first ledger line above the bass staff. The B below it sits just on top of the top line.
Is the bass clef harder to read than the treble clef?
It is not harder, only less familiar, because most beginners start with the treble clef. Learn the bass clef on its own landmarks, bass F and the Cs, rather than translating. If you do translate, a bass clef note is two letters above the treble clef note in the same place.