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clef Definition

clef (klef)

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)

Etymology: Fr < L clavis, a key: see close

clef Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • use: This gives you some of idea of what instrument or voice would use each clef.
  • add: Staff Set-up places selected instruments automatically adding appropriate clef, transposition and instrument name.
  • call: Clef: If a student cannot sing, he may have an affliction of the palate, called a clef.
  • change: In fact you can change clef within a part.

Preposition: in

score: As we have seen, the choice of clef in the autograph score could have had more to do with convenience than instrument specification.

Adjective modifier

  • treble: For some reason, they always put a treble clef in front of every line of flute music.
  • roman: Like most of Berners ' fic tion it is a roman à clef.
  • different: The different clefs avoid too many notes outside the stave.
  • alternative: The basic edition supplies all viol parts, but recorder parts in alternative clefs for alto and tenor parts are available if specifically ordered.
  • à: Roman à clef relating affair between Prince Regent and Mary Robinson, in the form of letters between the pair.
  • appropriate: Staff Set-up places selected instruments automatically adding appropriate clef, transposition and instrument name.

Modifies a noun

  • notation: Students should usually be comfortable with both treble and bass clef notation and should be able to play simple pieces for both hands.
  • instrument: Alternative parts included for treble and alto clef instruments.
  • change: Clef changes can be inserted in a more flexible way - automatically splitting any long notes in parallel parts on the same stave.

Noun used with modifier

  • alto: A part in alto clef, for instance, does not necessarily demand an alto trombone.
  • tenor: Moreover, the first trombone part of the 1890 edition, which is labeled ' 1. Posaune ' , is written in tenor clef.
  • bass: Double bass music is written in the bass clef, like the left hand of the piano.
  • à: Like most of Berners ' fic tion it is a roman à clef.
  • treble: This brooch is in the shape of a sweet little treble clef and it features diamante rhinestone glass stones set in gold-tone metal mounts.
  • percussion: The percussion clef is shown on staves for indefinite pitch percussion parts.

Browse dictionary entries near clef

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  4. cleaver
  5. cleave
  6. cleavage
  7. cleat
  8. clearwing
  9. Clearwater
  10. clearstory
  1. cleft
  2. cleft lip
  3. cleft palate
  4. Cleisthenes
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  8. Clemenceau
  9. clemency
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