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Reading the staff

Clefs

A clef assigns pitch names to the staff's lines and spaces.

See it in the score

Treble clef on the Minuet's upper staff

The G clef fixes the upper staff's pitch map before the opening melody.

Open measure 1 in the piece
Treble clef on the Minuet's upper staff From Minuet in G Major by J.S. Bach (attrib.; BWV Anh. 114, likely Christian Petzold), source measure 1.

Passage playback follows the literal encoded notes, rhythm, tempo, and written directions in this excerpt. It is a study aid, not a model of a pianist's touch, phrasing, ornament realization, or pedal technique.

In a sentence

A clef assigns pitch names to the staff's lines and spaces.

The treble clef curls around the G line, while the bass clef's dots surround the F line. Piano grand staff normally pairs treble above bass.

Clefs can change temporarily within a staff to keep notes readable and avoid ledger lines. Always resume reading from the new sign at the point it appears.