Reading music: basics

In short: Notes show which pitch is played for how long. Pitch follows from the position on the five staff lines, duration from the shape of the note.

In more detail: At the start stands a clef. The treble clef (G clef) fixes the line of the note G, the bass clef (F clef) that of F.

In detail

• Note values: Whole note (4 beats in 4/4), half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth note. Each is half as long as the previous.
• Rests: For each note value there is a rest sign.
• Note names: C, D, E, F, G, A, B (in German H for B), then C an octave higher.
• Accidentals: Sharp (♯) raises a semitone, flat (♭) lowers, natural (♮) cancels.
• Time signature: Two numbers at the start, such as 4/4 or 3/4 (rhythmus-und-takt).
• Mnemonics: Lines E-G-B-D-F (“Every Good Boy Does Fine” in treble clef).