Reading Music: A Complete Guide to Notation and Tablature
Reading Music: Notation & Tablature
Why Learn to Read Music?
Musical notation is a universal language that allows musicians worldwide to communicate and share music. Whether you’re reading classical sheet music, jazz lead sheets, or modern pop charts, the same basic system has been used for centuries.
For guitarists and bassists, tablature (or “tab”) offers a more direct way to learn where to put your fingers on the instrument. Both systems have their advantages:
- Standard notation shows pitch and rhythm precisely, works for any instrument
- Tablature shows exactly which string and fret to play, easier to learn initially
The best musicians learn both systems. This guide will show you how they work and connect them to the scales and chords we’ve already covered.
The Musical Staff
What is a Staff?
A staff (or “stave”) consists of 5 horizontal lines and 4 spaces. Each line and space represents a different pitch. Notes can be placed on lines, in spaces, or on short lines above or below the staff (called ledger lines).
Staff = 5 lines + 4 spaces
Line 5 ═════════════════════
Space 4
Line 4 ═════════════════════
Space 3
Line 3 ═════════════════════
Space 2
Line 2 ═════════════════════
Space 1
Line 1 ═════════════════════
The clef symbol at the beginning of the staff tells you which pitches the lines and spaces represent. The two most common clefs are:
- Treble Clef (G Clef) – Used for higher-pitched instruments (guitar, violin, flute, right hand of piano)
- Bass Clef (F Clef) – Used for lower-pitched instruments (bass guitar, tuba, cello, left hand of piano)
Treble Clef (G Clef)
Note Names in Treble Clef
The treble clef is called the “G clef” because it curls around the line for the note G. This is the clef used for guitar notation.
Treble Clef Notes (Bottom to Top):
LINES: E - G - B - D - F
Mnemonic: "Every Good Boy Does Fine"
Line 5 ═════════════════════ F
Line 4 ═════════════════════ D
Line 3 ═════════════════════ B
Line 2 ═════════════════════ G (the clef curls around this line)
Line 1 ═════════════════════ E
SPACES: F - A - C - E
Mnemonic: Spells "FACE"
E (space 4)
C (space 3)
A (space 2)
F (space 1)
Complete Treble Clef Range (with Ledger Lines)
Below the staff:
─────────────── C (ledger line below)
─────────────── D
═════════════════════ E (line 1)
On the staff:
E - F - G - A - B - C - D - E - F
Above the staff:
═════════════════════ F (line 5)
─────────────── G
─────────────── A (ledger line above)
─────────────── B
─────────────── C (2 ledger lines above)
Middle C sits on a ledger line below the treble clef staff. This is the C closest to the middle of a piano keyboard and serves as a reference point between treble and bass clefs.
Bass Clef (F Clef)
Note Names in Bass Clef
The bass clef is called the “F clef” because the two dots mark the line for the note F. This is the clef used for bass guitar notation.
Bass Clef Notes (Bottom to Top):
LINES: G - B - D - F - A
Mnemonic: "Good Boys Do Fine Always"
Line 5 ═════════════════════ A
Line 4 ═════════════════════ F (the two dots mark this line)
Line 3 ═════════════════════ D
Line 2 ═════════════════════ B
Line 1 ═════════════════════ G
SPACES: A - C - E - G
Mnemonic: "All Cows Eat Grass"
G (space 4)
E (space 3)
C (space 2)
A (space 1)
Complete Bass Clef Range (with Ledger Lines)
Below the staff:
─────────────── E (ledger line below)
─────────────── F
═════════════════════ G (line 1)
On the staff:
G - A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A
Above the staff:
═════════════════════ A (line 5)
─────────────── B
─────────────── C (ledger line above) - This is Middle C!
─────────────── D
─────────────── E (2 ledger lines above)
Middle C sits on a ledger line above the bass clef staff. It’s the same note as the Middle C that sits below the treble clef—they just use different staffs to represent it.
Key Signatures
What Are Key Signatures?
A key signature appears at the beginning of the staff (after the clef) and tells you which notes are sharp (♯) or flat (♭) throughout the piece. Instead of writing a sharp or flat symbol every time that note appears, the key signature does it once at the beginning.
For example:
- C Major / A minor – No sharps or flats
- G Major / E minor – One sharp (F♯)
- D Major / B minor – Two sharps (F♯, C♯)
- F Major / D minor – One flat (B♭)
- B♭ Major / G minor – Two flats (B♭, E♭)
Circle of Fifths – Sharp Keys
| Major Key | Relative Minor | Sharps | Which Notes Are Sharp |
|---|---|---|---|
| C Major | A minor | 0 | None |
| G Major | E minor | 1♯ | F♯ |
| D Major | B minor | 2♯ | F♯, C♯ |
| A Major | F♯ minor | 3♯ | F♯, C♯, G♯ |
| E Major | C♯ minor | 4♯ | F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯ |
| B Major | G♯ minor | 5♯ | F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ |
Circle of Fifths – Flat Keys
| Major Key | Relative Minor | Flats | Which Notes Are Flat |
|---|---|---|---|
| F Major | D minor | 1♭ | B♭ |
| B♭ Major | G minor | 2♭ | B♭, E♭ |
| E♭ Major | C minor | 3♭ | B♭, E♭, A♭ |
| A♭ Major | F minor | 4♭ | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭ |
| D♭ Major | B♭ minor | 5♭ | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭ |
Guitar Tablature (Tab)
What is Tablature?
Tablature (tab) is a simplified notation system specifically for fretted instruments like guitar and bass. Instead of showing which pitch to play, it shows exactly which string and fret to press.
Tab consists of 6 horizontal lines (for guitar) or 4 lines (for bass), each representing a string. Numbers on the lines indicate which fret to press. A “0” means play the open string.
How to Read Guitar Tab
Standard guitar tuning (from lowest to highest): E – A – D – G – B – E
E|----------------------------------------| (thinnest string, highest pitch) B|----------------------------------------| G|----------------------------------------| D|----------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------| (thickest string, lowest pitch)
Example – Playing a C Major Scale:
E|----------------------------------------| B|--------------------1---3---5-----------| G|--------------0---2---------------------| D|--------0---2---------------------------| A|----3-----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------| C D E F G A B C
Reading the Numbers
- 0 = Play the open string (don’t press any fret)
- 1 = Press the 1st fret
- 2 = Press the 2nd fret
- 3 = Press the 3rd fret, etc.
Vertical alignment means play notes at the same time (a chord):
E|---0---| ← Play all these B|---1---| together for G|---0---| C major chord D|---2---| A|---3---| E|-------| ← X means don't play this string
How to Read Bass Tab
Standard bass tuning (from lowest to highest): E – A – D – G
G|----------------------------------------| (thinnest string, highest pitch) D|----------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------| (thickest string, lowest pitch)
Example – Playing a C Major Scale:
G|--------------------0---2---4-----------| D|--------------0---2---------------------| A|--------0---3---------------------------| E|----3-----------------------------------| C D E F G A B C
The Circle of Fifths
Visual Guide to Key Relationships
The Circle of Fifths is one of the most important tools in music theory. It shows the relationship between all 12 major keys and their relative minor keys, organized by the number of sharps or flats in each key signature. Moving clockwise adds sharps (or removes flats), moving counterclockwise adds flats (or removes sharps).
How to Use the Circle of Fifths
Moving Clockwise (Sharps):
Each step clockwise adds one sharp to the key signature. Starting from C (no sharps), moving to G adds F♯, then D adds C♯, then A adds G♯, and so on. The pattern follows: F – C – G – D – A – E – B.
Moving Counterclockwise (Flats):
Each step counterclockwise adds one flat to the key signature. Starting from C (no flats), moving to F adds B♭, then B♭ adds E♭, then E♭ adds A♭, and so on. The pattern follows: B – E – A – D – G – C – F (the reverse of the sharp pattern).
Relative Major and Minor:
Each major key shares all the same notes with a relative minor key (shown in the inner circle). The relative minor is always a minor third (3 semitones) below the major key. For example, C Major and A Minor both have no sharps or flats, G Major and E Minor both have one sharp (F♯).
Finding Related Keys:
Keys that are adjacent on the circle are closely related – they share many common notes and chord progressions sound smooth between them. This is why songs often modulate (change keys) to adjacent keys on the circle.
Major Scales – Notation and Tab
C Major Scale
Notes: C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C
No sharps or flats
Standard Notation (Treble Clef):
Guitar Tab:
E|-------------------------------------------0---1---3---| B|-----------------------------0---1---3-----------------| G|-------------------0---2---3---------------------------| D|---------0---2---3-------------------------------------| A|---3---5-------------------------------------------| E|---------------------------------------------------| C D E F G A B C D E F G A
Standard Notation (Bass Clef):
Bass Tab:
G|-----------------------------------0---2---4---5---| D|-----------------------0---2---3-------------------| A|---------0---2---3---------------------------------| E|---3---5-------------------------------------------| C D E F G A B C D E F G
G Major Scale
Notes: G – A – B – C – D – E – F♯ – G
Key signature: One sharp (F♯)
Standard Notation (Treble Clef with F♯ in key signature):
Guitar Tab:
E|-------------------------------------------0---2---3---| B|-----------------------------0---1---3-----------------| G|-------------------0---2---4---------------------------| D|---------0---2---5-------------------------------------| A|---2---3-----------------------------------------------| E|---3---------------------------------------------------| G A B C D E F# G A B C D E
Standard Notation (Bass Clef with F♯ in key signature):
Bass Tab:
G|-----------------------------------0---2---4---5---| D|-----------------------0---2---4-------------------| A|---------0---2---3---------------------------------| E|---3---5-------------------------------------------| G A B C D E F# G A B C D
D Major Scale
Notes: D – E – F♯ – G – A – B – C♯ – D
Key signature: Two sharps (F♯, C♯)
Standard Notation (Treble Clef with F♯ and C♯ in key signature):
Guitar Tab:
E|-------------------------------------------2---3---5---| B|-----------------------------2---3---5-----------------| G|-------------------2---4---5---------------------------| D|---------0---2---4-------------------------------------| A|---0---2-----------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------| D E F# G A B C# D E F# G A B
Standard Notation (Bass Clef with F♯ and C♯):
Bass Tab:
G|-----------------------------------2---4---5---7---| D|-----------------------0---2---4-------------------| A|---0---2---4---------------------------------------| E|---------------------------------------------------| D E F# G A B C# D E F# G A
F Major Scale
Notes: F – G – A – B♭ – C – D – E – F
Key signature: One flat (B♭)
Standard Notation (Treble Clef with B♭ in key signature):
Guitar Tab:
E|-------------------------------------------0---1---3---| B|-----------------------------1---3---5-----------------| G|-------------------0---2---3---------------------------| D|---------0---3---5-------------------------------------| A|---0---3-----------------------------------------------| E|---1---------------------------------------------------| F G A Bb C D E F G A Bb C D
Standard Notation (Bass Clef with B♭):
Bass Tab:
G|-----------------------------------0---2---3---5---| D|-----------------------0---3---5-------------------| A|---0---3---5---------------------------------------| E|---1-----------------------------------------------| F G A Bb C D E F G A Bb C
Minor Scales – Notation and Tab
A Natural Minor Scale (Aeolian Mode)
Notes: A – B – C – D – E – F – G – A
No sharps or flats (same key signature as C major)
Standard Notation (Treble Clef):
Note: Same notes as C major, but starting on A gives it a minor quality
Guitar Tab:
E|-------------------------------------------0---1---3---| B|-----------------------------0---1---3-----------------| G|-------------------0---2--------------------------------------| D|---------0---2---3-------------------------------------| A|---0---2-----------------------------------------------| E|---0---------------------------------------------------| A B C D E F G A B C D E F
Standard Notation (Bass Clef):
Bass Tab:
G|-----------------------------------0---1---3---5---| D|-----------------------0---2---3-------------------| A|---0---2---3---------------------------------------| E|---5-----------------------------------------------| A B C D E F G A B C D E
E Natural Minor Scale
Notes: E – F♯ – G – A – B – C – D – E
Key signature: One sharp (F♯) – same as G major
Standard Notation (Treble Clef with F♯):
Guitar Tab:
E|---0---1---3---5---7---8---10--12--| B|-----------------------------------| G|-----------------------------------| D|-----------------------------------| A|-----------------------------------| E|---0---2---3---5---7---8---10--12--| E F# G A B C D E
Standard Notation (Bass Clef with F♯):
Bass Tab:
G|-----------------------------------0---1---3---5---| D|-----------------------0---2---3-------------------| A|---0---2---3---------------------------------------| E|---0-----------------------------------------------| E F# G A B C D E F# G A B
Blues Scale – Tab
A Blues Scale (Minor Pentatonic + ♭5)
Notes: A – C – D – E♭ – E – G – A
The blues scale adds the ♭5 (blue note) to the minor pentatonic scale
Guitar Tab (Box Pattern 1 – Most Common):
E|---5---8------------------------------------| B|---5---8------------------------------------| G|---5---7------------------------------------| D|---5---7------------------------------------| A|---5---7------------------------------------| E|---5---8------------------------------------| A C D Eb E G (notes repeat across positions)
Bass Tab:
G|-----------------------------0---1---3-----| D|-----------------------0---1---------------| A|---0---3---5---6---7-----------------------| E|---5---------------------------------------| A C D Eb E G A C D Eb
E Blues Scale
Notes: E – G – A – B♭ – B – D – E
Guitar Tab (Open Position):
E|---0---3------------------------------------| B|---0---3------------------------------------| G|---0---2------------------------------------| D|---0---2------------------------------------| A|---0---2------------------------------------| E|---0---3------------------------------------|
Bass Tab:
G|-----------------------------0---1---3-----| D|-----------------------0---1---------------| A|---0---3---5---6---7-----------------------| E|---0---------------------------------------| E G A Bb B D E G A Bb
Common Chord Shapes – Guitar
Open Position Major Chords
C Major
E|---0---|
B|---1---|
G|---0---|
D|---2---|
A|---3---|
E|---X---|
X = don’t play, O = open string
G Major
E|---3---|
B|---0---|
G|---0---|
D|---0---|
A|---2---|
E|---3---|
D Major
E|---2---|
B|---3---|
G|---2---|
D|---0---|
A|---X---|
E|---X---|
A Major
E|---0---|
B|---2---|
G|---2---|
D|---2---|
A|---0---|
E|---X---|
E Major
E|---0---|
B|---0---|
G|---1---|
D|---2---|
A|---2---|
E|---0---|
Open Position Minor Chords
A Minor
E|---0---|
B|---1---|
G|---2---|
D|---2---|
A|---0---|
E|---X---|
E Minor
E|---0---|
B|---0---|
G|---0---|
D|---2---|
A|---2---|
E|---0---|
D Minor
E|---1---|
B|---3---|
G|---2---|
D|---0---|
A|---X---|
E|---X---|
Seventh Chords
Cmaj7
E|---0---|
B|---0---|
G|---0---|
D|---2---|
A|---3---|
E|---X---|
Dm7
E|---1---|
B|---1---|
G|---2---|
D|---0---|
A|---X---|
E|---X---|
G7
E|---1---|
B|---0---|
G|---0---|
D|---0---|
A|---2---|
E|---3---|
Am7
E|---0---|
B|---1---|
G|---0---|
D|---2---|
A|---0---|
E|---X---|
Em7
E|---0---|
B|---0---|
G|---0---|
D|---0---|
A|---2---|
E|---0---|
Bass Guitar – Common Patterns
12-Bar Blues Bass Line in A
Bars 1-4 (A7): G|-------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------| A|---0---0---3---5---0---0---3---5-----| E|---5---5-------5---5---5-------5-----| Bars 5-6 (D7): G|-------------------------------------| D|---0---0---3---5---0---0---3---5-----| A|---5---5-------5---5---5-------5-----| E|-------------------------------------| Bars 7-8 (A7): G|-------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------| A|---0---0---3---5---0---0---3---5-----| E|---5---5-------5---5---5-------5-----| Bar 9 (E7): G|-------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------| E|---0---0---3---5---------------------| Bar 10 (D7): G|-------------------------------------| D|---0---0---3---5---------------------| A|---5---5-------5---------------------| E|-------------------------------------| Bars 11-12 (A7): G|-------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------| A|---0---0---3---5---0--------------| E|---5---5-------5---5--------------|
Walking Bass Line – II-V-I in C
Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7
G|-------------------------------------------| D|---0-------3-------5-------0-------2-------| A|---5-------3-------5-------3-------3-------| E|-------5-------3-------5-------3-------3---| Dm7 G7 Cmaj7 D F A G B D C E G
Tips for Reading and Learning
- Practice daily – Even 15 minutes of reading practice every day builds skills faster than occasional long sessions
- Start with familiar songs – Learn to read music you already know by ear; this connects the dots faster
- Say note names out loud – When reading, speak the note names as you play them
- Learn patterns, not just notes – Recognize scale patterns, chord shapes, and common sequences
- Use both systems – Standard notation teaches you music theory; tab teaches you instrument technique. Learn both!
- Flashcards help – Make flashcards for note names in treble and bass clef
- Play with a metronome – Rhythm is half of reading music; practicing with a metronome develops your timing
Connecting Everything
Now that you can read music notation and tablature, go back to the scales and chord progressions we covered in the other guides. Try writing them out in notation, or finding them on your instrument using tab. The more you connect the theory (intervals, scales, chords) with the practical (notation, tab, playing) the deeper your understanding becomes.
Remember: musical notation is just a tool to communicate musical ideas. The goal isn’t to read perfectly— it’s to make music. Use notation as a bridge to learning new music, understanding what you’re playing, and communicating with other musicians.
Marco Chelo is a co-founder of the New York Jazz Workshop, bringing together his love for music and his skills in entrepreneurship. He was born in Milan, grew up in Rome, and moved to New York City in 1995. Marco has a diverse background that includes running a travel agency franchise, starting a web development agency, and establishing the New York Jazz Workshop music school. He also enjoys sailing and has traveled from New York to the Caribbean on his small sailboat “Aeolus”.
Throughout his career, Marco has been driven by his passions for creating and managing businesses. His work with the New York Jazz Workshop has provided a platform for jazz lovers to learn and grow, reflecting his commitment to music education. Marco’s sailing adventures show another side of his adventurous spirit and love for exploring new horizons.
Today, Marco continues to be involved in music and sailing and travel, always looking for new challenges and ways to combine his interests.”