Clef is a french word which means Key. Clef is the first element you will see on the staff 
Clefs indicate the names of the music notes on the staff
Different clefs indicate the names of the music notes on the staff, so a music note on the first line of the staff is not always the E note, it can be a C note, a D note, it depends on the clef. Without clefs, you cannot determine the names of music notes, we will see it later, don't panic.
There is three kinds of clef: G-clef, F-clefs and C-clefs
| Treble clef (G-clef) | F-clefs | C-clefs |
 |  |  |
Clefs are like families, there are several kinds of clef in each family:
- 1 kind of G-clef: Treble clef.
- 2 kinds of F-clefs: Bass clef and baritone clef.
- 4 kinds of C-clefs: Tenor clef, alto clef, mezzo-soprano clef and soprano clef.
| Families | Kinds of | |||
|  Treble clef | |||
|  Bass clef |  Baritone clef | ||
|  Tenor clef |  Alto clef |  Mezzo-soprano clef |  Soprano clef |
Most common clefs are the treble clef (G-clef) and the bass clef (one of the two kind of F-clefs). For example, the piano use those two clefs:
G-clefs families
Treble clef
Nowadays there is only one kind of G-clef, the treble clef determines the position of the G note on the staff:
F-clefs families
There is two kind of F-clef.
Bass clef
Bass clef determines the position of the F note on the staff:
Baritone clef
Baritone clef determines the position of the F note on the staff:
C-clefs families
There is four kind of C-clef.
Tenor clef
Tenor clef determines the position of the C note on the staff:
Alto clef
Alto clef determines the position of the C note on the staff:
Mezzo-soprano clef
Mezzo-soprano clef determines the position of the C note on the staff:
Soprano clef
Soprano clef determines the position of the C note on the staff:
Which clefs for which instruments?
In most of the cases, instruments use only one clef, but when sounds become too low or too high, others clefs can be used to avoid too much ledger lines (additional lines above or below the staff).
For the piano, the harp and other polyphonic instruments, two clefs are used (usually treble clef and bass clef).
Instruments in treble clef (G-clef)
The treble clef is principally used by:
- Piano, harp, harpsichord, organ, accordion (right hand)
- Oboe, flute, clarinet
- Horn, trumpet, euphonium, saxhorn
- Violin
- Guitar
Instruments in bass clef
The bass clef (F-clef on the fourth line of the staff is principally used by:
- Piano, harp, harpsichord, organ, accordion (right hand and foot for the organ)
- Bassoon and fa*got
- Trombone, tuba, euphonium, saxhorn
- Cello, double bass
Instruments in tenor clef
The tenor clef (C-clef) on the fourth line of the staff) is used by the following instruments:
- Cello (in the high register)
- Double bass (in the high register)
- Trombone (in the high register)
- Bassoon (in the high register)
Instruments in alto clef
The alto clef (C-clef on the third line of the staff) is principally used by:
- Viola
Instruments in mezzo-soprano clef
Mezzo-soprano clef is only used for transposition and for instruments that need to transpose.
Instruments in soprano clef
Soprano clef is only used for transposition and for instruments that need to transpose.
Neutral clef
Neutral clef, also called rhythm clef or percussion clef, is not really a clef, it is used for percussion instruments with no precise pitch, like for the drum notation.
Here is a neutral clef:
And here is example of a drum score:
Test your knowledge
Clefs are used for:
Clefs indicate the position of the notes. Without clefs , you cannot determine the names of music notes.
- open the doors
- indicate the position of the rhythms
- indicate the position of the notes
- nothing
- start the car
What is another name for G clef?
The treble clef is a G-clef that indicates the position of the G note.
- Normal clef
- Big clef
- Treble clef
- Bass clef
- The only clef
The treble clef indicates the position of the C note.
The treble clef (G-clef) indicates the position of the G note.
- true
- false
- sometimes
- it depends
Others articles from this category:
Treble clef (G-clef)
Article about the treble clef (G-clef). Description and usage of the treble clef and how to draw it. All you want to know about the treble clef.
F-clefs
Article about the F clefs. Description and usage of the F-clefs and how to draw them: Learn how to use the bass clef and the baritone clef
C-clefs
Article about the C clefs. Description and usage of the C-clefs and how to draw them: Learn how to use the soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor and the alto clef.
Relation between clefs
Learn the relation between all the clefs and know why. The most important relation is the relation between treble clef and bass clef.
Octaves clefs
Article about Octaves clefs. Octave clefs are used to write music notes that will sound an octave lower or an octave higher. Learn how to use them.
External links :
1 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clef
2 - https://www.dolmetsch.com/musictheory1.htm
3 - https://musicterms.artopium.com/c/Clef.htm
