How to Read Baritone Music Only

• 1). Learn the names of the lines in bass clef. Most elementary school students learn the names of the lines and spaces for the treble clef, but in order to play baritone music, the bass clef must be conquered. As the lines of the treble clef are named for the first letters of the sentence, "Every good boy does fine," the lines for bass clef use the sentence, "Good boys do fine always," meaning the lines are G, B, D, F and A.
  
  
• 2). Memorize the spaces for the bass clef by using the sentence, "All cows eat grass," or, "All cars eat gas." The first or bottom space of the bass clef would be A, followed by C on the second space. The third space, E, is followed by top space, G.
  
  
• 3). Learn about the lines and spaces that are added above and below the staff called ledger lines. Logically if the bottom line of the bass clef is G it would follow that the note below that is F, followed by E on the first line below the staff. For the lowest note on the baritone, low E would be on the space below the fourth ledger line. One ledger line below the staff would be E with low D on the space below that. The second ledger line would be low C followed by low B on the third space below the staff. Although notes are rarely written below the low B space, the baritone can actually go down to low E.
  
  
• 4). Become familiar with the ledger lines above the staff. The space above the staff is B. One ledger line above the bass clef staff is middle C, followed by D on the space above it. E is on the second ledger line above the bass clef, and F is on the space above that. Rarely are notes written above F, but the instrument can actually play as high as Bb on the fourth ledger line above the bass staff.
  
  
• 5). Master the concept of sharps (#s) and flats (bs). A sharp raises the pitch by half a step, while a flat lowers the pitch by half a step. The key signature at the beginning of the staff indicates which notes sharps and flats affect. If the music needs an individual note to be raised or lowered, a sharp or flat sign will be placed in front of the note.
  
  
• 6). The beginning and intermediate player should memorize the notes from low E on the ledger line below the staff to F two ledger lines and a space above the staff. As playing becomes more advanced, the notes up to high Bb should be mastered. The best method for memorizing notes and fingerings is to use a fingering chart (see resource below) and a comprehensive baritone method book that introduces music reading in a logical, comprehensive manner.