renablistic Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 I got my music to play bass in the school band, and right next to the bass cleff (the left "C" thing) there is a flat symbol! What does it mean? my trumpeter says on the trebel cleff it means all Bs are flat... but he's unsure of what it means on bass cleff. Also, theres a a sharp sign next to another bass cleff, and like 5 flat signs next to another... help.... please... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 The "C" thing means common time (4/4.) One flat means it's in the key of F (B's are flat.) Also, theres a a sharp sign next to another bass cleff, and like 5 flat signs next to another... I don't know what you mean by that? Key of G then Db? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 Hmm... I just re-read you post. I take it you don't know how to read music. The "C" thing is really an "F" thing (including the two dots it looks more like an "F".) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renablistic Posted March 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 i know how to read most of the notes, but no, i'm not an expert on it... Thanks alot, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithb Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 Quick lesson: Bass clef is also called F-clef because the two dots like surround the F line. The treble clef is also called G-clef because the end of the little swirl is around the G line. The flat and sharp symbols right after the clef tell you what key the music is in, and by doing so tell you which notes are sharp/flat. For example, if there is a flat symbol on the F line, ALL F's are flat. This way, the music doesn't get cluttered up with accidental symbols. You may also see a 'natural' symbol - it looks like a square with a line attached to the bottom-right corner and a line attached to the top-left corner. This means to play the note as it is written. For example, if there was a flat sign on the F line, you would play all F's as F flat, but if there was a natural sign written before an F, you would play it as F natural, or 'normal' F instead of flat. Hope this makes sense! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 For example, if there is a flat symbol on the F line, ALL F's are flat. An F flat? Kinda esoteric, ain't it? I guess you'd use it in the key of C flat . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithb Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 Yeah, I guess F flat is a lil weird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renablistic Posted March 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 Thank you so much keith!! but what if there are like 5 flats? then every line a flat symbol on then all of that particular note is flat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckguitarist Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 Thank you so much keith!! but what if there are like 5 flats? then every line a flat symbol on then all of that particular note is flat? yup. and thats Db+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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