Cello Intermediate 28: Introduction to the Tenor Clef
In this video, we will be discussing the tenor clef. As cellists, we start off playing in the bass clef in the lower positions. Later on, when playing advanced repertoire, we encounter the treble clef high up on the fingerboard. The tenor clef is the clef that bridges the gap between the two.
Why do we use the tenor clef?
When we play higher and higher up on the A string in bass clef, notes start floating off the stave on little lines called ledger lines. The more ledger lines you see stacked on top of each other, the harder it becomes to sight-read quickly. The tenor clef brings those higher notes neatly back down inside the five lines of the stave, making the music much easier to read.
The good news is that you do not need to learn an entire instrument's worth of notes in tenor clef. You generally only need to recognise the notes from around F on the D string up to high D in thumb position on the A string.
Key anchor points
The tenor clef is also known as a C clef because the centre of the symbol points directly to Middle C.
- Middle C: sits on the fourth line up from the bottom of the stave (our 2nd finger in 1st position on the A string).
- Open A string: sits on the third line up (the middle line of the stave), exactly two notes below Middle C.
- B: sits in the space directly above the middle line.
A great way to drill these notes away from the cello is to use a clef-reading mobile app. Practising note recognition in short, game-like sessions on your phone helps build instant recognition.
The "Fifth Up" reading trick
When you are starting out and not yet completely fluent with the note names, you can use a simple reading shortcut. If you look at a passage in tenor clef, imagine reading it as if it were in bass clef, and simply move your hand up one fifth (which means moving directly across to the next higher string).
For example, in Saint-Saëns' "The Swan", the opening notes in tenor clef look like C, B, E in bass clef on the D string. By moving straight across to the A string (up a fifth), you are immediately playing the correct pitches: G, F sharp, and B!
Verbalise your notes
As you practise new pieces in tenor clef, I strongly encourage you to say the note names out loud as you play. Speaking the names reinforces the visual connection on the page and helps you quickly transition from using shortcuts to reading the clef naturally and fluently.