bass clef

American  

[beys] / beɪs /

noun

Music.

1. a symbol placed on the fourth line of a staff to indicate that the fourth line of the staff corresponds to the F next below middle C; F clef.

---

bass clef British  

/ beɪs /

noun

1. Also called: F clef.  the clef that establishes F a fifth below middle C on the fourth line of the staff

---

Etymology

Origin of bass clef

First recorded in 1900–05

Compare meaning

How does bass-clef compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• bass clef vs. treble clef

Example Sentences

It is not signed by Chopin, but the handwriting includes his distinctive bass clef.

From BBC

How about Grizzly Bears Don’t Fly Airplanes for the lines of the bass clef, or Empty Garbage Before Dad Flips or Elephants Get Big Dirty Feet for the lines of the treble clef?

From Literature

Voices and instruments with higher ranges usually learn to read treble clef, while voices and instruments with lower ranges usually learn to read bass clef.

From Literature

It was the territorial line between where the right hand and the left hand traveled, between the treble and the bass clefs.

From Literature

While I’d been playing brass instruments for years, tuba parts are written in bass clef; I’d only ever read treble clef.

From New York Times