A clef is the symbol at the beginning of a staff that identifies a reference pitch. It gives the lines and spaces their note names, so the same position can mean different notes in different clefs.
Explore the G, C and F families, historical staff positions, octave variants, percussion and tablature. Each card shows the sign, its meaning and names in English, French, Italian and Arabic.
20 clefs in this catalogue view
01CommonG2
Treble Clef
The G-clef curls around line 2, marking G4. Used for many higher-register parts.
Sounding reference noteG4
Staff line (from bottom)2
English (UK & US)
Treble Clef
French
Clé de sol (2e ligne)
Italian
Chiave di violino
Arabic
مفتاح صول (الكمان)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysG
02HistoricalG1
French Violin Clef
Places G4 on line 1. A historical clef found in French violin and flute music.
Sounding reference noteG4
Staff line (from bottom)1
English (UK & US)
French Violin Clef
French
Clé de sol (1re ligne)
Italian
Chiave di violino francese
Arabic
مفتاح الكمان الفرنسي
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysG
03HistoricalC1
Soprano Clef
The centre of the C-clef marks middle C on line 1. A historical vocal clef.
Sounding reference noteC4
Staff line (from bottom)1
English (UK & US)
Soprano Clef
French
Clé d’ut (1re ligne)
Italian
Chiave di soprano
Arabic
مفتاح دو (سوبرانو)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysC
04HistoricalC2
Mezzo-Soprano Clef
Places middle C on line 2. Another historical C-clef for vocal notation.
Sounding reference noteC4
Staff line (from bottom)2
English (UK & US)
Mezzo-Soprano Clef
French
Clé d’ut (2e ligne)
Italian
Chiave di mezzosoprano
Arabic
مفتاح دو (ميتزو سوبرانو)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysC
05CommonC3
Alto Clef
Places middle C on line 3. Especially associated with the viola.
Sounding reference noteC4
Staff line (from bottom)3
English (UK & US)
Alto Clef
French
Clé d’ut (3e ligne)
Italian
Chiave di contralto
Arabic
مفتاح دو (ألتو)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysC
06CommonC4
Tenor Clef
Places middle C on line 4. Used in higher passages for cello, bassoon and trombone.
Sounding reference noteC4
Staff line (from bottom)4
English (UK & US)
Tenor Clef
French
Clé d’ut (4e ligne)
Italian
Chiave di tenore
Arabic
مفتاح دو (تينور)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysC
07HistoricalC5
Baritone Clef (C)
Places middle C on line 5. Its staff pitches are the same as the F-clef baritone form.
Sounding reference noteC4
Staff line (from bottom)5
English (UK & US)
Baritone Clef (C)
French
Clé d’ut (5e ligne)
Italian
Chiave di baritono (Do)
Arabic
مفتاح الباريتون (دو)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysC
08HistoricalF3
Baritone Clef (F)
The two dots surround line 3, marking F3. An alternative baritone clef.
Sounding reference noteF3
Staff line (from bottom)3
English (UK & US)
Baritone Clef (F)
French
Clé de fa (3e ligne)
Italian
Chiave di baritono (Fa)
Arabic
مفتاح الباريتون (فا)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysF
09CommonF4
Bass Clef
The two dots surround line 4, marking F3. Used for many lower-register parts.
Sounding reference noteF3
Staff line (from bottom)4
English (UK & US)
Bass Clef
French
Clé de fa (4e ligne)
Italian
Chiave di basso
Arabic
مفتاح فا (الباص)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysF
10HistoricalF5
Subbass Clef
Places F3 on line 5. Also called the contrabass clef.
Sounding reference noteF3
Staff line (from bottom)5
English (UK & US)
Subbass Clef
French
Clé de fa (5e ligne)
Italian
Chiave di basso profondo
Arabic
مفتاح فا (الباص العميق)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysF
11Octave variantG2
Treble Clef (8 below)
The 8 below the clef makes notes sound one octave lower than written. Also called the vocal tenor clef.
Sounding reference noteG3
Staff line (from bottom)2
English (UK & US)
Treble Clef (8 below)
French
Clé de sol (8 en dessous)
Italian
Chiave di violino (8 sotto)
Arabic
مفتاح صول (8 أسفل)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysG
12Octave variantG2
Treble Clef (8 above)
The 8 above the clef makes notes sound one octave higher than written.
Sounding reference noteG5
Staff line (from bottom)2
English (UK & US)
Treble Clef (8 above)
French
Clé de sol (8 au-dessus)
Italian
Chiave di violino (8 sopra)
Arabic
مفتاح صول (8 أعلى)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysG
13Octave variantG2
Treble Clef (15 below)
The 15 below the clef makes notes sound two octaves lower than written.
Sounding reference noteG2
Staff line (from bottom)2
English (UK & US)
Treble Clef (15 below)
French
Clé de sol (15 en dessous)
Italian
Chiave di violino (15 sotto)
Arabic
مفتاح صول (15 أسفل)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysG
14Octave variantG2
Treble Clef (15 above)
The 15 above the clef makes notes sound two octaves higher than written.
Sounding reference noteG6
Staff line (from bottom)2
English (UK & US)
Treble Clef (15 above)
French
Clé de sol (15 au-dessus)
Italian
Chiave di violino (15 sopra)
Arabic
مفتاح صول (15 أعلى)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysG
15Octave variantF4
Bass Clef (8 below)
The 8 below the clef makes notes sound one octave lower than written.
Sounding reference noteF2
Staff line (from bottom)4
English (UK & US)
Bass Clef (8 below)
French
Clé de fa (8 en dessous)
Italian
Chiave di basso (8 sotto)
Arabic
مفتاح فا (8 أسفل)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysF
16Octave variantF4
Bass Clef (8 above)
The 8 above the clef makes notes sound one octave higher than written.
Sounding reference noteF4
Staff line (from bottom)4
English (UK & US)
Bass Clef (8 above)
French
Clé de fa (8 au-dessus)
Italian
Chiave di basso (8 sopra)
Arabic
مفتاح فا (8 أعلى)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysF
17Octave variantF4
Bass Clef (15 below)
The 15 below the clef makes notes sound two octaves lower than written.
Sounding reference noteF1
Staff line (from bottom)4
English (UK & US)
Bass Clef (15 below)
French
Clé de fa (15 en dessous)
Italian
Chiave di basso (15 sotto)
Arabic
مفتاح فا (15 أسفل)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysF
18Octave variantF4
Bass Clef (15 above)
The 15 above the clef makes notes sound two octaves higher than written.
Sounding reference noteF5
Staff line (from bottom)4
English (UK & US)
Bass Clef (15 above)
French
Clé de fa (15 au-dessus)
Italian
Chiave di basso (15 sopra)
Arabic
مفتاح فا (15 أعلى)
Reference key
The highlighted key is the clef's sounding reference pitch.
Pressed keysF
19Special notation
Percussion / Neutral Clef
For unpitched percussion. Lines and spaces identify instruments, rather than fixed pitches. The sign may be two bars or a rectangle.
Pitch referenceNo fixed pitch
English (UK & US)
Percussion / Neutral Clef
French
Clé neutre
Italian
Chiave neutra
Arabic
مفتاح الإيقاع (المحايد)
20Special notation
Tablature (TAB)
The TAB sign identifies tablature rather than a pitch clef. Lines represent strings; numbers give fret positions. This example has six strings.
Academy