Bass Clef or Left Hand Piano Notes And How To Master It

Piano players might already know that piano notes are divided into two parts. This may be a bit confusing for new players as to what this division is supposed to signify. The two parts that piano notes are divided are called treble clef and bass clef. The significance of both of these is that they are supposed to guide you in terms of the responsibilities you are assigning to both hands when you play the piano. The treble clef is played by the right hand whereas the bass clef is played by the left.

Beginners are usually thought to get used to the treble clef first and then they are gradually thought to incorporate the bass clef. This contributes to a universal notion that the left hand is more or less lagging in practice when compared to the right hand. However, this is an issue that can be easily dealt with if one knows the technique and tools to teach it to beginners. 

What is Bass Clef?

In order to understand the difference between the bass clef and treble clef, one needs to understand that the keyboard is divided into two sections when notes are written. The two sections are divided by the middle C of the piano. So everything left to the middle C comes under bass cleft and the notes in a bass clef guide a player through the motions of the left hand.

Some players may overlap this strict division and can sometimes resort to using both hands interchangeably for some particular notes but when considered on a general basis most players follow the prescribed criteria. 

Why Is Left Hand Piano Notes Needed?

There are a few reasons that the mentioned division and the existence of a bass clef make sense and why we need to pay equal attention to left hand piano notes. If we only use treble clefs, it can be less than helpful when playing a composition effectively as the note sheet will not have much of a range as when both clefts are used. Having two clefts allows the note sheet to have a lot of range within a limited space.

Playing complex compositions would be a challenge if only one clef is depended on. Reading pitches below middle C gets easier for people than with a single cleft. It also becomes easier for people to determine which hand they should use in a decisive manner. Therefore, when the concept of this division is summed up, it boils down to two factors. It provides better convenience for the players to figure out the best way to approach the notes and it allows them to jot down complex compositions. 

How To Draw Bass Clef?

Drawing left hand piano notes is fairly simple. One must begin by drawing a dot near the fourth line of the staff. This line is the marker for F3, which falls directly to the left of the middle C. Then you should draw a curve to the right that resembles a backward C. Proceed to draw two dots on either side of the line. You will have to further add one dot between the fourth and fifth lines and then another dot in between the third and fourth. There you have it, this is how you draw a bass clef. 

Best Way To Learn Left Hand Piano Notes

Since the bass clef is played with the left hand, one has to consider that that is the weaker hand for most of the population. The foremost factor you need to have in mind is that patience is key. It may prove to be a little difficult to master the bass clef when compared to the treble clef, but be assured that you will definitely get there with consistent practice based on a slow progression in speed. 

There are some tips and tricks that will definitely help you reach your goal of mastering the bass clef faster. Let us see what can be done to do so. 

Rhyming Method To Learn Left Hand Piano Notes

Rhymes are a tried and tested way to remember anything. Our brains associate memories more strongly with particular details if we have allocated a musical tone to them. This is the reason that rhymes are such an important part of nursery schooling and that same principle can be used for bass clef notes as well. The rhyming method can help beginners to identify notes more prominently and faster.

Beginners can approach this by learning two rhymes to identify the notes easily and with speed. This involves denoting a word for each note according to the starting letter. For example, A becomes “Always” and F becomes “fast”. This goes the same for other notes and certain rhymes are created from the combination of notes. The player then practices these notes and can get a good grasp over them with the help of the rhymes. 

Interval Method

The reading by interval method is quite simple to understand. The use of the interval method comes after you have learned to recognize the notes with the rhyming methods. By identifying where the note starts with the rhyming method, the interval method helps you to get accustomed to the jumps by knowing where an octave ends and where a note for a particular octave starts. From there on you just practice and master those jumps by keeping in mind the intervals on different parts of the bass clef. 

Make use of both these techniques in unison and you will be on your way to mastering the bass clef in no time. The piano can be both simple or hard to play based on the types of compositions you are approaching. Make sure that you follow a learning curve that gradually accustoms you to playing complex notes over time. It will take a bit of time but when it comes to practice, consistency is the most important factor.

Your determination to perfect your skills will also play a pivotal role in your journey of learning the instrument. Make sure that you are devoting the time you are using to play the piano completely to the task at hand and it will be easier for you to get a good grasp over the notes and any composition that you may be aiming to play.