clef

noun

ˈklef 

: a sign placed at the beginning of a musical staff to determine the pitch of the notes

Illustration of clef

• 1 treble clef
• 2 bass clef

Did you know?

A musical-notation symbol at the beginning of a music staff, a clef indicates the pitch of the notes on the staff. Clefs were originally letters, identifying letter-named pitches, that were added to one or more of the staff's lines (thus providing a "key" to their identity). Knowing the identity of a single line permitted the musician to identify all the other lines and spaces above and below. Clefs were first regularly used in the 12th century. The Gothic letter forms of G and F evolved into the modern treble and bass clefs, respectively; the letter C evolved into the rarer alto, tenor, baritone, and soprano clefs.

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, key, from Old French, from Latin clavis — more at clavicle

First Known Use

circa 1577, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing clef

• bass clef
• C clef
• F clef
• G clef
• treble clef

Kids Definition

clef

noun

ˈklef 

: a sign placed on the staff in writing music to show what pitch is represented by each line and space