Simple, quick tips for remembering which notes are which
One of the hardest things to learn as a beginner pianist, is how to recognise which note is which on a score. Seeing all those notes and lines scrambled up together on one page can make it seem like an impossible code to decipher.
You might have asked yourself: How do I know which line C sits on? Does A fall ON the line or IN BETWEEN the lines? Do the notes appear differently in the left hand compared to the right hand?
We've tried to simplify it right down for you by breaking things down into:
A) Memorising the notes that fall ON the lines
B) Memorising the notes that fall IN BETWEEN the lines
With the help of some mnemonic memory tricks, you'll be able to remember where each note lies in no time.
Mnemonics are a fantastic way of being able to memorise tricky things. For those that don't know, a mnemonic is a learning technique that aids informational retention or retrieval.
How it works
Mnemonics can be created in numerous ways, but for the task of remembering piano notes, an easy-to-remember phrase is created with the first letter of each word representing the notes on the score.
How to remember piano notes in the treble clef
A) Memorising the notes that fall ON the lines
It's a silly little phrase, but that's what makes it so memorable! Where does D sit in the treble clef? 'Every Good Boy Deserves...', ah, the fourth line up.
B) Memorising the notes that fall IN BETWEEN the lines
Remembering the notes that fall in between the lines is perhaps the easier of the two as the note names themselves create their own anagram without the need for further input.
How to remember piano notes in the bass clef
A) Memorising the notes that fall ON the lines
Another humourous phrase but, again, one that is easy to remember for that very reason.
Nothing about learning the piano is easy. If we want to be good at playing, we have to put the work and the effort in. The more little tricks, like these, that we can squeeze in, the better. Here's a refresher on the basics such as what piano notes and chords are.
Want to keep learning the basics of piano notes? Download our new All About Note Values cheat sheet directly to your device – including two pages full of practical exercises to help you with your learning.
