Tenor Clef
Tenor clef is a C clef whose center points to the fourth staff line. That line is middle C, or C4. Cellists, bassoonists and trombonists may switch to it for higher passages with fewer ledger lines.
- C clef
- fourth line = C4
- reduces high ledger lines
Which pitches sit on the staff?
From bottom to top, the lines are D3, F3, A3, C4, E4. The spaces are E3, G3, B3, D4. The two halves of the C clef meet at line four. You only need that C4 anchor to work out the rest.
Tenor and alto clefs use the same C-clef symbol at different heights. Alto places C4 on line three; tenor places it on line four. The same notehead position therefore means different pitches in the two clefs.
Why would a player meet tenor clef?
A cello or bassoon passage high above a bass-clef staff can require many ledger lines. Moving C4 onto the fourth line brings more of that passage inside the staff. A player may switch back to bass clef when the line descends, so check each clef change before continuing.
What is the first useful reading drill?
Mark line-four C4, the space below B3 and the top-line E4. Read B3-C4-D4-E4 slowly, then reverse. Do not translate every note through bass clef first; read from the C4 anchor directly.
Sketch five staff lines with the C clef centered on line four. Put C4 on that line and E4 on the top line, then compare your sketch with a cello or bassoon score. The Staff and Clefs gives the wider system.
Keep going
Everything in the staff and clefs
- Alto Clef
- Bass Clef
- Tenor Clef
- Treble Clef