The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Shelly
Date: 2001-04-27 19:24
Somewhere in the back of my mind I recall hearing about another clef (other than bass and treble). Is this my imagination or is there another clef? If so, what instuments use it and where does it fit in (above the treble? below the bass?)
shelly
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Author: Mario
Date: 2001-04-27 19:37
The C Clef, used by middle of the range instruments (say, cello) to keep their music within the staff.
Glad I could beat one million other guys to this post.
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Author: Bob R
Date: 2001-04-27 19:39
Hmm.....Off the top of my head I know there is an Alto Clef in the key of C. Its sits on the 3rd line of the staff. I have never seen any music using it except when I sat next to a strings player once. I know there is also a Tenor Clef, but I don't know anything about it. My guess is that it would be for low brass like trombone. Don't hold me to that. I live in the world of the Treble Clef.
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Author: William
Date: 2001-04-27 19:54
Alto clef denotes that C is on the middle line and is the clef that orchestral viola parts are written in. Tenor clef defines C as on the fourth line. Alto or tenor clef may be written in any key the same as bass and treble. This is very basic info but addresswes your questin. Good clarineting.
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Author: 'nifer
Date: 2001-04-27 19:57
There are many other clefs that are named different ways, but they mostly all look similar to the alto and tenor clef. They have a similar design that looks similar to a m that is turned sideways... the clef is read so that middle c (on the piano) is located at the line that the m shape middle point is around! the different clefs have that c in differing locations on the staff.. http://www.wiu.edu/trombone/notes7.htm
this trombone website talks about reading tenor clef.. the clefs are are similar (as i said) that thay each surround where middle c belongs.. good luck!
'nifer
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2001-04-27 20:19
Tenor clef is sooooo fun if you're transoposing from bassoon to bass clarintet, for example. It's really nice because you can play the notes as they would appear on a treble clef and they are in the right key ( with the exception of some key signatures, accidentals, etc...) I was surprised at how often bassoons in orchestra have to transpose for their instrument. Do they have to learn that as beginners, or does the tenor clef only come along in more advanced music?
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Author: beth
Date: 2001-04-27 21:17
Would the percussion clef count? It's used by snare and bass drums and cymbals, drum set and other accessory instruments. I'm only aware of this clef because I have a percussionist in the house.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-04-27 22:12
Shelly -
Look up "Clef" in a music dictionary -- say, the Harvard Music Dictionary -- or in Grove.
The treble clef is a stylized script "G" and is called a "G clef." The G in question is the G above middle C. The staff line that the clef wraps around is designated as G. The almost universal use for the G clef is Treble Clef, where the clef wraps around the next to bottom line.
The G clef, like others, is movable. In the Baroque period in France, the G clef was often set to wrap around the bottom line of the staff, which was designated as G. This particular use is known as "French Violin Clef." There were certainly instances when the G clef was set higher, but these are very rare.
The clef sign used for bass clef is a stylized letter "F." The two dots straddle the line that is designated as the F below middle C. It is therefore known as an "F clef." The most common use of this clef is the Bass Clef, with the dots around the next-to-top line of the staff. However, in earlier music this clef was also used on the middle line of the staff, where it was called Baritone Clef, and in other positions also.
The third clef in common use usually looks like a stylized capital letter B, with a diamond-shaped box where the two lobes come together. The staff line that the box goes around is designated as middle C, and the clef is thus a "C clef." It universally used on the middle line of the staff for viola music, and, in that position, is known as Alto Clef. (When violas play up high, the music usually goes into Treble Clef.)
When the C clef is on the next-to-top line, it is called Tenor Clef. High passages in basson and trombone parts often go into tenor clef. Cello music goes from bass to tenor to treble clef as the pitch goes higher.
In baroque and renaissance music, you will often see the C clef used on the next-to-bottom line of the staff (Mezzo Soprano Clef) and the bottom line (Soprano Clef).
Think that's complicated? In Gregorian Chant, the staff has only 4 lines, and there's either a tiny C (sometimes a diamond shape) or a tiny capital F that goes on either of the middle lines. You have to be able to jump back and forth.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Sara
Date: 2001-04-28 20:29
My theory teacher keeps telling us that we will have to learn all 7 clef's....there is a clef that make each note become "middle c".
Ken Shaw said to "Look up "Clef" in a music dictionary -- say, the Harvard Music Dictionary -- or in Grove." I think that is a great idea.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-04-30 19:19
Sara -
Better yet, get Hindemith's Elementary Training for Musicians, which has reading exercises in all clefs.
Ken Shaw
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