Understanding theory
It might not be the star of the show, but if composers ignored the left-hand
parts of piano music it would be very boring indeed! The bass clef tends to carry
all notes to the left of Middle C (although ledger lines enable higher notes to
belong on the bass clef stave too). But, like the treble clef, Middle C actually rests
on a line outside of the stave, on a ledger line. On this occasion it rests on the
first ledger line above the bass stave. The first line up on the bass clef stave isG, ten white notes to the left of Middle C. It goes all the way to A, which is only
two notes below Middle C. Of course, ledger lines enable notes to go below the
bass stave too.
Left-hand parts might not always be as intricate as right-hand parts, but it’s
still important that you learn which notes are which so you’ll be able to provide
vital accompaniment to your melodies.The bass stave notes
Don’t forget the left hand
The lines
The lines on the bass stave read G,
B, D, F, A. As a mnemonic, you could
continue the theme we used for the
line notes on the treble stave, with
Good Boys Deserve Fruit Always. If you
think you may get confused between
the two, then thinking up your own will
help you remember. Middle C is a ‘line’
above this stave, two white notes to the
right of the A on the top line.All together
There’s no mnemonic for all the notes
together on the bass stave but if you
remember that the first space up on the
stave is A, then you can use alphabetic
order to work out the notes going up
the stave – just remember to return to A
after reaching G! Although theoretically
you can use ledger lines to play any
note on the bass stave, you’re unlikely to
see anything past the G after Middle C
(a note that’s three ledger lines high).The spaces
Unfortunately, the four notes in the
spaces on the bass stave don’t spell
out any body parts this time – ACEG.
You can, however, remember them
with All Cows Eat Grass, or something
less animal-based if you would prefer!
If remembering them from bottom to
top isn’t doing it for you, there’s nothing
wrong with trying top to bottom – it’s
whatever works. The C in ACEG is the C
an octave below Middle C.G B D F A
A C E G
F G A B C D E F G A B