I have opined that guitar players are not generally music readers. For keyboard guys not so much. The illiterate keyboardist is a rare exception indeed. Most not only read but are expert in music theory as well. Sooooo  …..    here goes. Although most piano music is written to be read simultaniously in both treble and bass cleff there is a very popular shortcut for adult players where the budding artist only reads treble cleff for his right hand and simply learns chords by name for the left. Fact is that a great deal of music that is intended for pro players is written in just this fashion and is commonly sold as “musicians bibles”

The treble cleff staff is written using five horizontal lines that enclose four spaces. Notes above or below the written staff are placed on ledger lines. We are therefore looking at line notes and space notes. Notes on the lines from the bottom up are E, G, B, D, & F.  So how bout this. Every Good Bird Does Fly. The notes in the spaces are,  bottom up, F, A, C, E. Rimes with space .

The treble cleff symbol is the first thing that occurs on the staff and is created by drawing a vertical line that goes from above to below the horizontal lines. Then at the top a small half circle is drawn at the top of the vertical line facing to the right. Then the half circle changes direction as it is drawn to the left of the line in a bigger half circle thet goes just short og the lowest horizontal line. The line continues in a smaller half circle but now goung up the staff to the right. then upon meeting the virtical line again a small half circle is drawn to the left and downuntil it meets the vertical once more. To finish the treble cleff symbol it is necessary to draw a small U at the bottom of the vertical line with the right leg of the “U” attached to the bottom of the vertical line. Or maybee when I get to the sunny southland again I can just demonstrate the thing.

Originally published November 2012, by JimiRed