Learn to Read Notes on the Staff
A note appears on the staff: click its name (C D E…). You instantly see whether you got it right, with the correct answer and the sound of the note.
- Free
- Treble and bass clef
- Letter note names
- 60 s timed mode
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How to practice reading music notes
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Choose the clef
Treble clef, bass clef or both, then notes on the staff only or with ledger lines too.
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Name the note
Click C, D, E, F, G, A or B for the note shown.
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Get instant feedback
The right answer is shown and the note is played: you link its name, its place on the staff and its sound.
Real sight-reading practice, note by note
Two clefs
Work on treble clef (voice, flute, piano right hand), bass clef (bass, cello, left hand) or both mixed together.
Ledger lines
Start with the notes on the staff, then add the notes above and below it, on ledger lines.
60 s timed mode
Name as many notes as you can in one minute. Score, streak and record are saved on your device.
Feedback with sound
With every answer, the correct note is shown and played, to connect reading with your ear.
How to read treble clef notes
The staff has 5 lines and 4 spaces, numbered from bottom to top. The treble clef (or G clef) curls around the 2nd line: the note on that line is a G. From there, notes follow the order C, D, E, F, G, A, B, alternating line and space. The notes on the lines are, from bottom to top: E, G, B, D, F, often remembered as "Every Good Boy Does Fine". The notes in the spaces spell FACE. Middle C sits on a small ledger line just below the staff. Rather than counting everything from the bottom, learn a few landmark notes and start from the closest one.
How to read bass clef notes
In the bass clef (or F clef), the clef's two dots surround the 4th line: the note on that line is the F below middle C. The notes on the lines are, from bottom to top: G, B, D, F, A ("Good Boys Do Fine Always"). The notes in the spaces are A, C, E, G ("All Cows Eat Grass"). Middle C sits on the first ledger line above the staff, which is the same note as the C below the treble staff. A common mistake is reading bass clef like treble clef. The notes are shifted one step down, from a line to the next space: the 1st line is a G in bass clef, but an E in treble clef.
Notes above and below the staff
When a note goes beyond the staff, small ledger lines are added. You simply keep alternating line, space. In treble clef, below the 1st line (E) comes D, then C on the 1st ledger line; above the 5th line (F) comes G, then A on the 1st ledger line. In bass clef, below the 1st line (G) comes F, then E on the 1st ledger line; above the 5th line (A) comes B, then C. Practice without ledger lines first, then turn them on once you know the notes on the staff. To play the notes, try the "Online Piano".
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I learn to read music notes fast?
Memorize a few landmark notes (G on the 2nd line in treble clef, F on the 4th line in bass clef, middle C) and count from the closest one. Then practice a few minutes a day, for example with the 60 s timed mode.
What are the lines and spaces in treble clef?
The lines, from bottom to top, are E, G, B, D, F ("Every Good Boy Does Fine"), and the spaces spell FACE. The 2nd line is a G: that's the line the treble clef curls around.
Where is C in treble clef?
Middle C is on the first ledger line below the staff. Another C is in the 3rd space, between the 3rd and 4th lines.
How do C D E and Do Re Mi match up?
C = Do, D = Re, E = Mi, F = Fa, G = Sol, A = La, B = Si (or Ti). English uses the letter names, which the tool shows.
Is my record saved?
Yes, your record is saved on your device, in your browser. It isn't sent to a server and you don't need an account.