Note Values

Note Values

In order to read a music piece, we need to know the note values, and names of each note. The following section shows us the different values of notes, that is, how long each note lasts.

Music is written on groups of five lines called staves.

space notes

Keyboard music uses two staves.

One is for the top half of the instrument. The symbol at the beginning of the line is called the treble clef, sometimes called the G clef. In piano music this calls for the use of right hand.

treble clef

The other is for the bottom half of the instrument. The symbol at the beginning of the line is called the bass clef, sometimes called the F clef. Bass clef calls for the use of the left hand.

bass clef

The two staves are joined by a bracket. Usually the notes on the upper stave are played with the right hand, and the notes on the lower stave are played with the left hand.

 two stave