The course › Unit 4: Reading the treble clef
Lesson 22 of 72 · C, D, E, F, G: five fingers, five notes to read
After E (1st line) comes F, in the 1st space. Then G, your landmark, on the 2nd line.
That’s all of C position on the staff: one position per finger, always line, space, line, space… Thumb on middle C, pinky on the G of the clef.
C position: fingers 1 to 5, from middle C to G.
Tip: When you read, keep your eyes on the staff: your fingers already know the way, each one above its key.
Play each note in its exact place, with the right finger.
Sight-reading means playing music you’ve never seen before, reading it as you go. Three golden rules:
Why this way: Teachers recommend reading lots of easy little melodies rather than a single hard one: it’s the amount of reading that makes your eyes fast. That’s why you’ll find some in every lesson of this unit.
A melody you’ve never heard: don’t listen to it first! Use the three rules, then listen to it at the end to check.
You know it: read it all the way through on the staff. In measure 4, the E has a dot (it lasts a beat and a half) and the D after it is short.
As many right notes as you can in 60 seconds, from middle C to G.
Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, in rhythm and with the accompaniment. You’ve read it: you know exactly where your fingers go. Watch out in measure 4: the dotted E lasts a beat and a half, and the D after it is short.
← Lesson 21: C, D, E on the staff Lesson 23: Reading by intervals →