The bass clef and the grand stave

Low instruments and the pianist's left hand read from the bass clef. Learn it and you can read the whole keyboard.

Practise this lesson free (6 questions)

The bass clef

The bass clef is used for lower instruments and voices, such as the cello, double bass, bassoon, trombone, tuba, bass guitar and the left hand of the piano.
It is also called the F clef: its two dots sit either side of the line for F (the fourth line up).

Lines and spaces

Bass clef lines, from the bottom: G B D F A (Good Boys Deserve Football Always).
Bass clef spaces, from the bottom: A C E G (All Cows Eat Grass).
Notice that the bass clef is not the same as the treble clef: the bottom line is G here, but E in the treble clef.

The grand stave

Piano music uses a treble stave and a bass stave joined by a brace. This is called the grand stave.
Middle C sits on one ledger line above the bass stave, and on one ledger line below the treble stave: it is the same note, joining the two staves.
Usually the right hand plays the treble stave and the left hand plays the bass stave.
Worked example

Name the notes on the bass clef: the bottom line, the top space and the middle line.

  1. Bass clef lines from the bottom: G B D F A, so the bottom line is G and the middle (third) line is D.
  2. Bass clef spaces from the bottom: A C E G.
  3. The top space is G.

Answer: G, G and D.

Key idea

The bass clef (F clef) is for low instruments and the piano left hand. Lines are G B D F A; spaces are A C E G. Middle C is one ledger line above the bass stave. The grand stave joins the treble and bass staves.

Key words
Bass clef
Lines G B D F A (Good Boys Deserve Football Always); spaces A C E G. Middle C is one ledger line above.
Stave
The five lines and four spaces on which music is written. Also called the staff.
Treble clef
Lines E G B D F (Every Good Boy Deserves Football); spaces F A C E. Middle C is one ledger line below.

All KS3 Music key terms and definitions →

Quick check

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. In the bass clef, what is the note on the top line?

    Show the answer

    Answer: A

    Bass clef lines from the bottom: G, B, D, F, A (Good Boys Deserve Fun Always). The top line is A.

  2. In the bass clef, what is the note in the top space?

    Show the answer

    Answer: G

    Bass clef spaces from the bottom: A, C, E, G (All Cows Eat Grass). The top space is G.

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Sources and references

Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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