Very helpful and informative. I’m a woodwind player, and an amateur orchestra composer and writing for /reading tenor clef has always been hard for me to do.
Bassoon player and tenor speaking. Though the tenor clef had first caused me grief, I can confidently say that reading this clef has improved. Granted, I may occasionally have the brain freeze when reading tenor clef, but all I have to do is imagine the note being written in bass clef and count up five notes. And yes, I have seen the C clef in some choral music (especially in older publications). Back in the day, it wasn’t uncommon to see soprano, alto, and tenor parts written in C clef. I’ve sung tenor parts in tenor clef before; it’s a great way for the brain to get used to the clef. So I love the tenor clef (and the alto clef, too). (-:
Way back when I played bassoon semi-regularly, we were just getting the internet. I had one piece of music that went into tenor clef for literally two measures. So I took the time to write the names of the notes on the page. That was the first and last time I thought about tenor clef.
it is true that one must revert back to the primal stages of learning when introduced to an additional clef. I myself play the trombone, and being used to the bass clef, found my self esteem drop when I struggled to play simple ditties in treble.
9:08 Oh no. That’s too accurate but for a different reason haha. Sometimes I switch clarinets in the middle of a piece because it’ll turn a technical part into an easier key but I’m horrible at transposing so I end up writing down all the notes like that haha.
this is my sophomore year of high school and my band director told me I should learn bassoon even though I’ve played saxophone ever since 6th grade because he said I was a little bit different from the other kids and for me practicing scales helped me learn bass clef faster than anything else
Your videos are educational and entertaining! I played bassoon through college, but that was 10 years ago. Recently decided to start playing again and the Tenor Clef has always been rough on the few brain cells I still have😂
I just started learning the alto clef to use on the alto trombone and your tips have been pretty helpful. Hopefully it doesn't take too long to pick up!
Also something that you could do if you already know treble clef, the tenor clef just looks like the note above what ever note it is in treble like a C in tenor looks like a D in treble. I made it sound kinda confusing but it’s not really, it’s also just something that helps me
I love getting a piece that’s entirely in tenor clef even when I could play it perfectly fine in bass clef. Literally playing low F but in tenor clef and having to read it with bottom ledger lines… 😭
Well actually this is incorrect… this is called an alto clef. I know this because I play the viola and I read alto clef… I AM VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE GIVE ME ATTENDANCE
I love the elegance of the way tenor works for high range trombone/bassoon etc., but for the record the bass clef Rite solo just looks like any violin concerto 🤣😜 (i totally understand y'all not wanting to do that tho!)
i think it’s a bit silly that they were like “hmm yes alto saxophone let’s make it have the treble clef range” instead of calling an alto sax an alto sax because it’s in alto clef (same thing with alto clarinet)
As an amateur bassoon player I've often wondered why the upper rage of the instrument was not better served by treble clef. Reasons? Fewer leger lines and most people familiar with bass/treble clefs. The tenor clef seems superfluous and does not really save too many upper leger lines.
I am staunchly anti-tenor clef. We still have ledger lines with tenor and music majors need to learn piano. Therefore, folks already learn treble clef. I can read tenor clef but it drives me crazy when bassoon music switches clefs Every. Stinking. Beat. (Milde, I’m looking at you!). I refer to tenor as “Hades Clef”. It is stupid clef and I will die on that hill. PS- I am also a flute player and ledger lines are not difficult to learn. Stravinsky in bass clef is no different than flute music.
I have officially been called out. I specifically chose the Teleman sonata for my college audition because it didn't have Tenor clef and I didn't want to write the note names.😅
I can read music fine. I only write out the notes when I don't have sheet music paper to apply the notes to or if I know a melody by heart and need to memorize the notes. Like flash cards.
My teacher taught me a trick to figure out notes on tenor faster. Find the note if it were treble and go one up. D on treble, C on tenor wahoo I dont.. use this trick because i cant think fast enough but its still something
Another tenor clef hack: Identify the note in bass clef and go up five notes (for example, G in the fourth space of the bass staff would be D in the same space of the tenor clef). Sure enough, you’ll discover that reading tenor clef is like reading bass clef, only a fifth above. (-:
@DwainRichardson still cant think fast enough for these kinds of tips to help. I just gotta get good bc the ballet im gon be playing in 2 weeks has so much tenor clef
Isn’t that supposed to be one note DOWN from treble clef? For example, if you saw a note in the fourth space of the tenor clef and wanted to know what the treble clef equivalent would be, you would count down, wouldn’t you? In the example above, the note in the fourth space of the staff would be E in treble clef; D in tenor clef (one whole step down). Am I missing something?
5:25 Violinists have to read and play notes above the treble clef all the time. No one went and invented a special clef for us, did they? Nope. They knew we could handle it on our own. Lol just kidding...sort of 😄
Please … just … don't …. write below about G3 or A3 in tenor clef. There's a special place in hell for people who write in tenor clef using ledger lines _below_ the staff. Mozart did it once (for 2nd bassoon, when 1st bassoon was high), but he dead now.
Placement on the staff. It‘s a C clef that shows where C4 (old-fashioned Middle C) is. On the fourth line it‘s called tenor cliff because it‘s used for instruments that normally use bass (or F) clef and reduces the number of ledger lines needed for higher notes. On the third line, it is called alto clef and reduces the number of ledger lines needed below the staff. As far as I know, the viola is the only instrument that uses alto clef. Because it is a fifth lower than the violin, you would have a godawful number of ledger lines below the staff if you used treble cliff, but you wouldn‘t use enough of the staff if you used bass cleff..
First of all, Bassoon Dan, congratulations on using C4 to denote middle C. A lot of you pedagogical types don’t do that. It is much easier to relate between clefs if one uses the octave number identifier. Now to the suggestion. Since the center of the C clef locates C4, why not visualize the lines above C4 as they would be on the G clef and the notes below as they would be on the F clef? Yes, this is a crutch, but it’s faster than counting on your fingers.
As someone who sings tenor I agree that clef would be great for voice, however the treble clef lowered by an octave is only one note higher from the tenor clef and works just as well and makes it easier to compare the tenor voice to the alto and soprano voices in any song.
Tenors read tenor clef back in the day (up until the middle of the nineteenth century, I’m told). Some older choral publications have written soprano, alto, and tenor parts in C clef. I have occasionally read tenor clef as a singer. It’s really easy. (-:
Honestly just remove tenor clef it’s already taking alto clefs job like why even have alto clef for one instrument when we could have it for all instruments that go up high idc if it’s important that’s basically why we have the viola clef that’s bacislly the same if it wasn’t in the diff line
As a flute player, we read 4 and 5 ledger lines all the time. Do it enough and you don't even have to think about it.
Very helpful and informative.
I’m a woodwind player, and an amateur orchestra composer and writing for /reading tenor clef has always been hard for me to do.
Bassoon player and tenor speaking. Though the tenor clef had first caused me grief, I can confidently say that reading this clef has improved. Granted, I may occasionally have the brain freeze when reading tenor clef, but all I have to do is imagine the note being written in bass clef and count up five notes.
And yes, I have seen the C clef in some choral music (especially in older publications). Back in the day, it wasn’t uncommon to see soprano, alto, and tenor parts written in C clef. I’ve sung tenor parts in tenor clef before; it’s a great way for the brain to get used to the clef.
So I love the tenor clef (and the alto clef, too). (-:
Way back when I played bassoon semi-regularly, we were just getting the internet. I had one piece of music that went into tenor clef for literally two measures. So I took the time to write the names of the notes on the page. That was the first and last time I thought about tenor clef.
it is true that one must revert back to the primal stages of learning when introduced to an additional clef.
I myself play the trombone, and being used to the bass clef, found my self esteem drop when I struggled to play simple ditties in treble.
Euphonium player here: tenor clef is simple, because the notes are exactly the same as reading treble clef baritone parts.
9:08 Oh no. That’s too accurate but for a different reason haha. Sometimes I switch clarinets in the middle of a piece because it’ll turn a technical part into an easier key but I’m horrible at transposing so I end up writing down all the notes like that haha.
Ah you have the B flat hack too
this is my sophomore year of high school and my band director told me I should learn bassoon even though I’ve played saxophone ever since 6th grade because he said I was a little bit different from the other kids and for me practicing scales helped me learn bass clef faster than anything else
Your videos are educational and entertaining! I played bassoon through college, but that was 10 years ago. Recently decided to start playing again and the Tenor Clef has always been rough on the few brain cells I still have😂
i know of 3 instruments that use tenor clef, but only 1 that uses alto clef. therefore, tenor clef is more important.
I mean, Bassoon can TECHNICALLY use alto clef but it's awful
tenor clef instruments:
-bassoon (sometimes)
-tenor trombone
-cello (sometimes)
-contrabass/double bass (sometimes)
-euphonium (sometimes)
-contrabassoon (rarely)
-bass trombone (rarely)
alto clef instruments:
-viola
-alto trombone
@proxima_centauri457 you see Alto clef sometimes on tenor trombone, but it's relatively uncommon
Euphonium/Baritone/tenor tuba sometimes uses tenor clef also. See the barfield euphonium concerto.
thats basically just a valved trombone@@staccatopeony
5:25 - literally me anytime I have to read music higher that a high f on my flute . . .
Watching this right before I play professional-level music in a concert 🙌 (this is a cry for help)
How did it go?
@@Deleted_Cat It went really well until I got followed home afterword D:
Second year of playing bassoon.....I needed this
The viola underground has you in its sights
this guy is so funny and informative I love it :3
There is another tenor clef used by vocal scores, the G clef with an 8 hung on the tail to show it is an octave lower.
So what you're saying is...not even tenors sing in tenor clef😮
9:19
"Ur basically just playing sudoku and reading ur own handwriting"
😂😂
I just started learning the alto clef to use on the alto trombone and your tips have been pretty helpful. Hopefully it doesn't take too long to pick up!
istg the part about people writing down the note names on top of the staff got me dead 💀💀💀
Thank you so much. You inspired me to restart bassoon
Very well done, sir!
If my teacher EVER gives me a piece with the tenor clef, i will cry right in front of them
Ledger lines, laughs in violin
this was actually really helpful and entertaining.
Also something that you could do if you already know treble clef, the tenor clef just looks like the note above what ever note it is in treble like a C in tenor looks like a D in treble. I made it sound kinda confusing but it’s not really, it’s also just something that helps me
Thank god I learned treble clef in front ensemble😂
As a cellist i just think of it as a fifth over the bass clef / a string over bass clef.
I love getting a piece that’s entirely in tenor clef even when I could play it perfectly fine in bass clef. Literally playing low F but in tenor clef and having to read it with bottom ledger lines… 😭
so helpful, and also love this editing
Me who’s watching this 2 weeks after starting the basoon:
The upside down clarinet image had me dying inside as a clarinetist.
As a trombonist and bassoonist, I agree that alto clef is the worst! (And tenor is really nice)
Well actually this is incorrect… this is called an alto clef. I know this because I play the viola and I read alto clef… I AM VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE GIVE ME ATTENDANCE
tenor clef has more height, alto clef does not. they look the same but are in different positions 😂
bro...
I have Allstate second round in a month I ain’t got time to learn this. I’m definitely playing sudoku
Could you do a video on how to properly do tonguing? That’s always something I’ve struggled to do a bassoon without it sound too airy.
I love the elegance of the way tenor works for high range trombone/bassoon etc., but for the record the bass clef Rite solo just looks like any violin concerto 🤣😜 (i totally understand y'all not wanting to do that tho!)
i think it’s a bit silly that they were like “hmm yes alto saxophone let’s make it have the treble clef range” instead of calling an alto sax an alto sax because it’s in alto clef (same thing with alto clarinet)
As an amateur bassoon player I've often wondered why the upper rage of the instrument was not better served by treble clef.
Reasons? Fewer leger lines and most people familiar with bass/treble clefs.
The tenor clef seems superfluous and does not really save too many upper leger lines.
I am staunchly anti-tenor clef. We still have ledger lines with tenor and music majors need to learn piano. Therefore, folks already learn treble clef. I can read tenor clef but it drives me crazy when bassoon music switches clefs Every. Stinking. Beat. (Milde, I’m looking at you!). I refer to tenor as “Hades Clef”. It is stupid clef and I will die on that hill.
PS- I am also a flute player and ledger lines are not difficult to learn. Stravinsky in bass clef is no different than flute music.
Treble clef gang
I have officially been called out. I specifically chose the Teleman sonata for my college audition because it didn't have Tenor clef and I didn't want to write the note names.😅
I don’t know about everyone else but I pretend there is a treble clef then put it down one note and up an octave
I can read music fine. I only write out the notes when I don't have sheet music paper to apply the notes to or if I know a melody by heart and need to memorize the notes. Like flash cards.
if you are fimilar with Bb transposed parts, pretend its treble clef Bb like a trumpet part but use he same key rules as concert pitch
violaaaaaaaaaaaaa
for me as a tuba player i learned tenor clef just by playing a lot of trombone
I have the hack of being able to c bass (on a B-flat instrument) and B-flat treble.
My teacher taught me a trick to figure out notes on tenor faster.
Find the note if it were treble and go one up. D on treble, C on tenor wahoo
I dont.. use this trick because i cant think fast enough but its still something
Another tenor clef hack: Identify the note in bass clef and go up five notes (for example, G in the fourth space of the bass staff would be D in the same space of the tenor clef).
Sure enough, you’ll discover that reading tenor clef is like reading bass clef, only a fifth above. (-:
@DwainRichardson still cant think fast enough for these kinds of tips to help. I just gotta get good bc the ballet im gon be playing in 2 weeks has so much tenor clef
ALTO CELF IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CLEF OUT THERE.
😂😂this made me laugh
As a bassoonist and former clarinet player, I make it easier by just going up one note from treble clef
Isn’t that supposed to be one note DOWN from treble clef? For example, if you saw a note in the fourth space of the tenor clef and wanted to know what the treble clef equivalent would be, you would count down, wouldn’t you?
In the example above, the note in the fourth space of the staff would be E in treble clef; D in tenor clef (one whole step down).
Am I missing something?
No, C is where D is on the treble clef, that's where the "backwards C's" meet for middle C on the Tenor clef sign@@DwainRichardson
@@davidcarroll9917 I am aware of middle C in the tenor clef. Your wording simply threw me off, which was why I was seeking clarification.
At 5:51 why was used F clef rather than G clef?😂😂😂
5:25 Violinists have to read and play notes above the treble clef all the time. No one went and invented a special clef for us, did they? Nope. They knew we could handle it on our own. Lol
just kidding...sort of 😄
The flute section agrees with you
@@EW-ty6qw I bet! Lol 🤣😂😂
I may not play bass on but like it’s factual for all instruments
hey bassondan I am in 5th grade and I play clarinet I am planing in middle school to play bassoon do you recommend anything?
As a flute and picc player. WHY DONT WE USE THE SOPRANO CLEF!!!!!! Literally sitting all rehearsal counting ledger lines sucks
6:10 literally me next year
Please … just … don't …. write below about G3 or A3 in tenor clef. There's a special place in hell for people who write in tenor clef using ledger lines _below_ the staff. Mozart did it once (for 2nd bassoon, when 1st bassoon was high), but he dead now.
As a violist I would not comment this
8:28🤣
Whats the difference between alto and tenor clef btw?
Placement on the staff. It‘s a C clef that shows where C4 (old-fashioned Middle C) is. On the fourth line it‘s called tenor cliff because it‘s used for instruments that normally use bass (or F) clef and reduces the number of ledger lines needed for higher notes. On the third line, it is called alto clef and reduces the number of ledger lines needed below the staff. As far as I know, the viola is the only instrument that uses alto clef. Because it is a fifth lower than the violin, you would have a godawful number of ledger lines below the staff if you used treble cliff, but you wouldn‘t use enough of the staff if you used bass cleff..
@@michaelmedlinger6399 Trombone players read the alto clef, too (alto trombone players, that is). (-:
as a clarinet player, why am i watching this
First of all, Bassoon Dan, congratulations on using C4 to denote middle C.
A lot of you pedagogical types don’t do that. It is much easier to relate between clefs if one uses the octave number identifier.
Now to the suggestion.
Since the center of the C clef locates C4, why not visualize the lines above C4 as they would be on the G clef and the notes below as they would be on the F clef?
Yes, this is a crutch, but it’s faster than counting on your fingers.
W
dosent trombone play bass cleff
Yes but sometimes it switches to tenor clef for higher notes
ok thanks
@@Drummerboy2564
im a beginner bassoonist and all i wanna say is that i have something against g
atleast i dont play clarinet anymore 😮💨
Ledger lines aren't that bad
Seems like tenor clef would be good for voice. Maybe that’s why it’s called tenor? Probably not.
As someone who sings tenor I agree that clef would be great for voice, however the treble clef lowered by an octave is only one note higher from the tenor clef and works just as well and makes it easier to compare the tenor voice to the alto and soprano voices in any song.
Tenors read tenor clef back in the day (up until the middle of the nineteenth century, I’m told). Some older choral publications have written soprano, alto, and tenor parts in C clef.
I have occasionally read tenor clef as a singer. It’s really easy. (-:
Honestly just remove tenor clef it’s already taking alto clefs job like why even have alto clef for one instrument when we could have it for all instruments that go up high idc if it’s important that’s basically why we have the viola clef that’s bacislly the same if it wasn’t in the diff line
The only thing I dislike about playing the bassoon is that horrible tenor clef!
your intro is 5 minutes long can you skip to the point
very good....but not in this life time!!! lol......that clef is just stupid!!! lol
This actually helps a lot because I still struggle with it (I am that one person who writes the notes above it 🥲)
I needed this, just got my first tenor clef piece for college 🥹 I have it down slightly but not fully