A clef is a symbol at the beginning of a line of music that indicates the pitch of the written notes.
clef in British English
(klɛf)
noun
one of several symbols placed on the left-hand side beginning of each stave indicating the pitch of the music written after it
See also alto clef, bass clef, C clef, soprano clef, tenor clef, treble clef
Word origin
C16: from French: key, clef, from Latin clāvis; related to Latin claudere to close
clef in American English
(klɛf)
noun
a symbol written at the beginning of a musical staff to indicate the pitch of the notes: there are three clefs: G (treble), F (bass), and C (alto or tenor)
Word origin
Fr < L clavis, a key: see close2
All related terms of 'clef'
C clef
a symbol (), placed at the beginning of the staff , establishing middle C as being on its centre line
F clef
→ bass clef
G clef
→ treble clef
alto clef
the clef that establishes middle C as being on the third line of the staff
bass clef
the clef that establishes F a fifth below middle C on the fourth line of the staff
tenor clef
the clef that establishes middle C as being on the fourth line of the staff , used for the writing of music for the bassoon , cello , or tenor trombone
treble clef
the clef that establishes G a fifth above middle C as being on the second line of the staff
viola clef
→ alto clef
soprano clef
the clef that establishes middle C as being on the bottom line of the staff
roman à clef
a novel in which real people are depicted under fictitious names
romans à clef
a novel in which real people are depicted under fictitious names