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| Author | Topic: reading piano music |
thesoftskeleton
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10/18/2007 | posted: 10/18/2007 at 10:35:36 PM ET
Okay! So I'm just learning to play the piano, I can play by ear pretty well, and I understand the basics of reading sheet music, but I'm having a slight problem learning how to play a particular song. ("Winning" by Emily Haines)
One of the notes on the treble clef is written as being three full lines below the last line of the staff:
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--note--
Now wherever I look online, the lowest note on the treble clef is middle C, which is shown as being only one line below the staff. So which note is this? Why isn't it in the bass clef if it's so low? Thanks in advance for any help you can give me! 
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Bandirector
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9/27/2007 | posted: 10/19/2007 at 8:05:53 AM ET
The note would be an "F". It is a simple method to figure out these notes. Just like the notes on the staff, the notes above and below the staff, printed on what we call ledger lines, go in the same order of the musical alphabet as the lines on the staff. Therefore, if you started with the C printed one ledger line below the staff, the note on the space below it would be a B, the line below that would be an A, the space below that would be a G, the line below that would be an F, the space below that would be and E, and so on and so forth.
As to why it is not printed in the bass clef staff rather than the treble, I cannot answer that. Good luck!
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suzyq
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11/18/2004 | posted: 10/19/2007 at 10:35:04 AM ET
Thankyou Bandirector - even after almost six years of music lessons, I still have trouble reading notes above and below staff lines.
Your answer makes logical sense and a big help. Still have way to go and many times I say to myself - "wish I done at six".
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Bandirector
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9/27/2007 | posted: 10/19/2007 at 1:39:58 PM ET
your welcome! I am glad I can help. The only way that you will become more proficient at reading notes above and below the staff is by doing it on a consistent basis. Seek out music that will force you to read those notes and then practice, practice, practice. Good luck to you!
P.S. If you are still having trouble reading notes after 6 years of lessons, it may be time to find a new teacher. Just a thought.
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suzyq
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11/18/2004 | posted: 10/19/2007 at 6:11:29 PM ET
quote:
P.S. If you are still having trouble reading notes after 6 years of lessons, it may be time to find a new teacher. Just a thought.
Hi,
My teacher always insists on sightreading, I think it's more like when first learning to write, I always mixed up small d and small b so it goes with some of the notes. I've gotten a good deal better and even surprise myself sometimes. When I first started, I never thought I'd ever be able to make sense of all those lines and circles. It's the notes below and above the staff that sometimes give me a pain and I guess input from others helps - it gives me another way of approaching sight reading and it just clicked.
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Anonymous
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| posted: 1/25/2008 at 10:02:41 AM ET
Hi there,
That's a really interesting question. i've been playing the piano since i was 7 (am now 22) and however good you get- sightreading is always a kick in the face. The low notes you mentioned above are sometimes written in the bass cleff- however when the left hand is playing something already written there, it can become hugely confusing- especially in grades 1-4. I'm assuming that it depends on how the composer intends you to play the piece. Sometimes the left hand will cross over the right to play notes at the very top of the trebble cleff. One of those weird things. Hope that this has been helpful. Sorry i have no concrete references for you. Perhaps an idea to help you with identifying these notes- is to memorise them fully and know exactly how many ledger lines are present for each note. might help you instead of guessing or trying to work it out mid-piece. Good luck with the training!!!
Danny
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Bandirector
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9/27/2007 | posted: 1/25/2008 at 3:44:21 PM ET
You are absolutely correct. I, myself, am 23 and I started music lessons when I was in high school. Although sight reading is a kick in the face, it is a very important task to master. After all, that is how I make my money as a musician. Most of the professional bands I play with do not rehearse, and therefore 75% of the gigs that I play are sight reading gigs. Ironically, I have sight reading gigs starting next Monday night and running every night through the 5th of February (sometimes two gigs a night)!! Busy Mardi Gras season as usual. I have seen people in these bands that can not cut it as a sight reader and are not called back for the next gig. Just shows how important sight reading is for a musician! Practice Practice Practice!!
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suzyq
Registered User
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11/18/2004 | posted: 1/26/2008 at 10:53:49 AM ET
I have a new piano teacher and she as assigned Bastien's Sightreading level 3 and 4.
Thanks for all your tips - sightreading is an important skill and practice, practice, practice.
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