How to read music

Tips and tricks on how to recognise musical notes

INTRODUCTION
Knowing how to read music is very important as it means we can play all kinds of music
that we are given the sheet music for, while also being able to play with others. Music
notation is a standard way to describe music and works all over the world.
Learning how to read music takes time and practice, but remember the more you do it,
the easier it comes, just like when you were learning to read at school. J
When music is written down, there are 2 main aspects that are described:
-pitch: this is how high or low a note is and is written as a note on the stave, below or
above it.
-note value: this is how long the note lasts for.
There are many other aspects, like the clef, the key signature and the time signature,
that are added to music notation, together with other more subjective qualities like
dynamics or extra symbols like accents. But in this worksheet we will focus on the first
main aspect of music, which is pitch.
BASICS
There are 7 names of notes: C, D, E, F, G, A and B. These are the white keys on the
piano. There are another 5 notes that are sharp or flat (these are the black keys on the
piano). These are: C# (or Db), D# (or Eb), F# (or Gb), G# (or Ab), A# (or
Bb). Here they are:

If you are wondering why the piano and other instruments have many more notes
remember that there are lots of octaves, where the basic 12 notes (see above) are
repeated in the same order but lower down or higher up. Try playing the same notes on
different octaves and youll hear that they are similar but not the same! J

Chris Jenks 2014

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HOW TO RECOGNISE NOTES

There are various ways to learn where each note is on the staff.
One way to remember where each note is, is to memorise a rhyme, one for the notes
on the lines and one for the notes in between the lines. Here they are for the treble clef
and bass clef:

F.A.C.E

Every Good Boy Does Fine

If you prefer, you can use this rhyme instead: Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge (or Football)

Good Boys Do Fine Always

All Cows Eat Grass

If you prefer, you can use this rhyme instead: Good Boys Deserve Fudge (or Football) Always

It may seem obvious, but always remember that a higher note on the piano or your
instrument means a higher note on the music.

OTHER WAYS TO RECOGNISE NOTES

It is important that you find the way to read music that works best for you. With time,
the aim is to read music seamlessly and recognise notes instantly, in the same way that
we read words.
One way to recognise notes in the bass clef, is to read it in the treble clef and raise that
note 2 steps. To obtain the actual note on the bass clef (eg on the piano), drop the note
then 2 octaves.
For example, F in the treble clef is A in the bass clef. To obtain the actual note (and play
it), drop that note A by 2 octaves.

Chris Jenks 2014

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Some people have a range of reference notes that they recognise instantaneously and
then count up or down to the note they are learning.

PRACTICALS
-Test yourself recognising notes given by books, your teacher or an assistant!
-Use aids like labels, stuck to the piano keys or cardboard inserts that fit opposite the
keys. It is important that aids like these are used in moderation and only for a while, so
you dont become dependent on them!
-Flash cards: these show a note and/or piano key. You are to give the note correctly (the
answer is on the rear).
-Computer and phone applications: there are a number of programmes, often free or in
trial format that can be downloaded for your computer or mobile. Here are a few:
-Android:
Note Trainer (Lite/Sight Reading)
Learn Musical Notes Flash Card (for kids)
Music Tutor (Sight reading)
Learn Music Notes
-iOS:
Note trainer Lite - Sight read music
Music Tutor Free (Sight Reading improver)
Notes! Learn to read Music
-Websites/PC programs:
http://www.notationtraining.com
http://www.jaydemusica.com

Chris Jenks 2014

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How to read music

Notes on ledger lines: learn how to read notes outside the
staff
The spectrum of notes available is potentially infinite but the staff lines cannot hold
more than a limited number of notes. This is why extra lines, known as ledger lines, are
added to notes to help with identifying them.
The best way to understand how ledger lines work is to imagine a virtual series of lines,
laid above the staff, rising up as far as necessary. All the lines needed to reach that note
are then added to it.

In this example, the ledger lines needed to read the note have been added. These make it possible
to identify the name of the note and its pitch. In this case, the note is a B.

HOW TO RECOGNISE NOTES WITH LEDGER LINES

You can use the same rhymes used for learning notes on the staff, as in the diagram:

The same applies to the bass clef:

Chris Jenks 2014

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OTHER WAYS
A lot of people use different ways to read music. Some people for example, use some
basic notes as reference points and count up or down to the desired note.
One thing to bear in mind with notes outside the staff is that sometimes these are part
of a:
-sequence of octaves
-arpeggio
-broken chord
-other pattern.
This means that you can often guess the note, rather than having to work it out!

Chris Jenks 2014

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