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Lesson 9: ledger lines Above the Staff

Band Theory

Ledger Lines extend the Range of the staff, much like climbing a rope. Range is the distance between the lowest and highest note. Each instrument has its own unique Range, so each section of the band will have notes above or below the staff to read; some have a larger range and some have a smaller range.

When notes go UP the rope, we go FORWARD in the musical alphabet. When notes go DOWN the rope, we go BACKWARD in the musical alphabet. Using the Master of the Alphabet exercise, we can start on the top line of the staff and go up one knot in the rope at a time.

The 411

(Treble Clef)

For this lesson, we will make G our highest note in our Range.

G is FOUR Ledger Lines above the staff.

We can use our Staff Chant or acronyms to remember the top line of the staff is F.

Let’s practice! Label the notes of the staff and Ledger Lines below.