Editing Clef (section)

{{Short description|Musical symbol used to indicate the written pitches of notes}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Distinguish|cleft (disambiguation){{!}}cleft}}
{{Redirect|Clé|other uses of "Cle"|Cle (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}

[[File:Clef Diagram.png|thumb|Diagram of treble, alto, and bass clefs with identical-sounding musical notes aligned vertically|alt=|440x440px]]
[[File:Middle C in four clefs.svg|thumb|[[Middle C]] represented on (from left to right) treble, alto, tenor, and bass clefs|420px]]
[[File:Mnemonic bass alto treble clefs.svg|thumb|200px|Three clefs aligned to middle C]]

A '''clef''' (from French: {{lang|fr|clef|}} 'key') is a [[Musical notation|musical symbol]] used to indicate which [[Musical note|notes]] are represented by the lines and spaces on a musical [[staff (music)|staff]]. Placing a clef on a staff assigns a particular pitch to one of the five lines or four spaces, which defines the pitches on the remaining lines and spaces.

The three clef symbols used in modern music notation are the [[#G-clefs|G-clef]], [[#F-clefs|F-clef]], and [[#C-clefs|C-clef]]. Placing these clefs on a line fixes a reference note to that line—an F-clef fixes the F below [[middle C]], a C-clef fixes middle C, and a G-clef fixes the G above middle C. In modern music notation, the G-clef is most frequently seen as treble clef (placing [[Scientific pitch notation|G<sub>4</sub>]] on the second line of the staff), and the F-clef as bass clef (placing F<sub>3</sub> on the fourth line). The C-clef is mostly encountered as alto clef (placing middle C on the third line) or tenor clef (middle C on the fourth line). A clef may be placed on a space instead of a line, but this is rare.

The use of different clefs makes it possible to write music for all instruments and voices, regardless of differences in [[tessitura|range]]. Using different clefs for different instruments and voices allows each part to be written comfortably on a staff with a minimum of ledger lines. To this end, the G-clef is used for high parts, the C-clef for middle parts, and the F-clef for low parts. [[Transposing instrument]]s can be an exception to this—the same clef is generally used for all instruments in a family, regardless of their sounding pitch. For example, even the low [[saxophone]]s read in treble clef.

A symmetry exists surrounding middle C regarding the F-, C- and G-clefs. C-clef defines middle C whereas G-clef and F-clef define the note at the interval of a fifth above middle C and below middle C, respectively. 

Common [[mnemonic]]s for the notes on treble clef:
:*'' '''E'''very '''G'''ood '''B'''oy '''D'''oes '''F'''ine'' (lines)
:*'' '''F''' '''A''' '''C''' '''E''' '' (spaces)

For bass clef:
:*'' '''G'''ood '''B'''oys '''D'''o '''F'''ine '''A'''lways<ref>[http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/Every+Good+Boy+Does+Fine Every Good Boy Does Fine – What does EGBDF stand for?<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>'' (lines)
:*'' '''A'''ll '''C'''ows '''E'''at '''G'''rass'' (spaces)