How Do I Read Tenor Clefs?

Music uses several types of clefs. Each clef will change the position of the notes on a staff. The tenor clef is a type of C clef that requires musicians to memorize different note names for each line and space on the staff. In treble clef, the bottom line is an E; in bass clef the bottom line is a G. Tenor clef also changes the note names of each pitch. Using a simple method, you can easily determine all of the notes in the tenor clef.

Step 1

Identify the middle of the bracket on the tenor clef staff. The middle of the bracket will be centered on the pitch C. All of the other pitches are in relation to this pitch. The space directly above C is a D; the next line is an E.

Step 2

Learn the names of the pitches in the tenor clef from the lowest line to the top line. Since the fourth line is a C, this makes it easy to figure out the rest of the lines. The first line is a D, the second is F, and then A, C and E.

Step 3

Learn the names of the spaces on the tenor clef from the lowest to highest space. There are four spaces: E, G, B and D.

Tips

If you know treble clef, you can identify the note as if it were written in the treble clef and take it down one note name. With this system, a C would be a B in tenor clef.