Reading Sheet Music (Mnemonics)

If you are beginning to learn to read sheet music check out my quick-and-dirty articles about getting your feet wet.

Once you understand the basic layout of the notes you can start reading a score. You will soon notice though that like any other language getting fluency in reading music takes time.

Often you will find yourself counting lines on the treble or bass clef to figure out which note to play.

Here are some simple mnemonic devices to help you quickly recognize the notes on the grand staff.

Treble Clef 

Notes on the treble clef lines (Ascending from the first line next to middle C) are E,G,B,D,F these make;

Elephants Get Big Dirty Feet.

Notes in the spaces on the Treble Clef (Ascending from the space after the first line next to middle C ) are F,A,C,E and spell 'face'.

The notes after the top staff line on treble clef spell G,A,B

Bass Clef

Notes on the bass clef lines (Descending from the first line next to middle C) are A,F,D,B,G these make;

All Fine Dukes Buy Gold

Notes in the spaces on the bass Clef (descending from the space after the first line next to middle C ) are G,E,C,A and these make:

Give Every Child Almonds

The notes after the bottom staff line on bass clef spell F,E,D

I like to point out that the above mnemonics for the bass clef are totally my invention. I like to centre my reading from the Middle C and flow outward in both directions.

Traditionally however one learns to read music from bottom line of each clef and so the mnemonics for the bass clef are;

Lines: Gummy, Bears, Don't, Fly, Aeroplanes

Spaces: All, Cows, Eat, Grass


Hope you found this helpful. Remember fluency can only come from practice.