If you’ve been studying music for even a short while you will also have come across symbols called clefs. By far the most common clefs are the treble clef and the bass clef. However, there are other types of clefs which are less frequently used. These are the alto clef and the tenor clef. It’s the latter that is the subject of this article. Clefs are very important for any musician to understand as they are a key part in understanding written music. In this article we will break down the tenor clef and how to read it with handy tips, mnemonics and practice advice. Let’s get started!
What is the tenor clef?
What is tenor clef? For most musicians, the first clef they learn is the treble clef; this is soon followed by the bass clef. The tenor clef is seldom used in piano music. However, learning how to read tenor clef and understanding how it functions is an important aspect of music theory as it is commonly used in bassoon and cello sheet music.
The tenor clef symbol is an example of a C clef. Just like the alto clef this means that wherever you place the middle of the clef will be middle C. The middle of the tenor clef is always placed on the fourth line up from the bottom of the staff. It gives instruments the flexibility to play notes above and below middle C without having to use lots of ledger lines.
How to read tenor clef on the staff?
As with other clefs the best way to memorize the tenor clef is with helpful and memorable mnemonics. Here is a labeled diagram of the tenor clef notes on the staff:
These are our helpful tips to help you remember all these notes on the tenor clef.
Tenor clef lines
The five lines represent:
D – F – A – C – E
A handy tenor clef mnemonic device to help you remember the notes is:
Dogs Fight All Cats Eagerly
Tenor clef spaces
The four spaces represent:
E – G – B – D
A possible mnemonic device here is:
Every Good Boy Dances
You’re welcome to come up with your own mnemonics or tenor clef acronym to help you remember these notes.
Tenor clef notes chart
Here’s a tenor clef notes chart to help you quickly identify all tenor clef notes on piano:
Tenor clef ledger lines
Here is a brief overview of the tenor clef ledger lines. You will notice that tenor clef notes above staff and below also follow an easy to follow alphabetical order the same as the tenor clef notes on staff.
Tenor vs other clefs
The best way to get proficient in reading and switching between clefs is to be familiar with their landmark notes and become familiar with the position of middle C for all clefs. To help you with this use this handy table from Skoove.
Keep reading sheet music with Skoove
Now you know how to get by if you find yourself in a situation where you need to read the tenor clef. Learning the tenor clef helps develop your overall skills as a musician and gives you greater insights into concepts such as orchestration, instrument registers and pitch. There is no better way to learn music theory than to incorporate it into your playing. Online piano lessons with Skoove are the perfect place to do this with exercises, lessons and all of your favourite songs. Sign up for your free trial today!
Explore all types of clefs
Author of this blog post:
Sam Girling is a percussion and piano teacher, writer, an researcher based in Münster, Germany and Auckland, New Zealand. He has performed extensively in New Zealand and Europe, lectures on a variety of music history and theory topics, and has published several academic articles and musical scores. Sam has taught music in a variety of contexts, from primary schools through to university level.
Published by the Skoove team
