Lesson 5: C Major scale in bass clef and reading in bass clef

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About this video

The video shows the C major scale in the bass clef, at two different octaves. It then practices reading bass clef with two cello and bassoon passages from the second movement of Schumann's Symphony No. 3, naming the notes while listening.

You'll be able to

  • play or name the C major scale in the bass clef.
  • name notes on the bass clef staff in a real piece of music.
  • follow a bass clef part while listening.

Key words

bass clef
The clef used for low instruments like the cello and bassoon.
C major scale
The notes C D E F G A B C in order, moving by step.
score
The written music showing the parts that the instruments play.
Transcript

- [Man] Let's look at a C major scale in the bass clef. Again, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. Or an octave lower, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. (piano music playing) Here is a cello and bassoon part at the beginning of the second movement of Robert Schumann's Symphony No. 3.

The passage begins on the lowest line at G, and then the passage continues, C, E, G, A, G, C, G, E, C, E, D, G. C, E, G, A, G, E, C, A, E, F sharp, G. Now let's listen to this and follow it in the score with the letters above the actual music. (classical music) In another moment, in the same movement for the cellos and the bassoons.

Again, the passage begins on the first line, G, and then goes up to the second space, C, and subsequently, B, D, C, E, D, F, E, G, G, octave, and C. Let's once again listen to this and follow it in the score. (classical music) The more one reads and practices reading, the more proficient we become.

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