Learning to read music has never been easier or more fun. Created in 1999, Happy Note! offers videos and even games to help you quickly and easily learn to read notes in the treble clef and bass clef, with the help of sound and colored notes.
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Do Beginners Need to Know Music Theory to Read Notes?
Not at all!
Our videos and games are designed so you can start learning immediately, no theory required. However, if you’re curious about the building blocks of sheet music, these core concepts will help you understand how it all works:
- The Music Staff: The 5 lines and 4 spaces where notes are written.
- Music Clefs: The symbols (like Treble or Bass clef) that tell you which note is on each line.
- Note Names: The different systems for naming the notes, such as A, B, C or Do, Re, Mi.
Find the Right Video in 1 Minute!
Before you start learning to read your first notes with the help of sound and color, you need to choose:
- your notation (A B C or Do re Mi)
- your clef (treble of bass)
- your speed (slow, walking pace, moderate speed)
A B C or Do Re Mi? Music Notation Depends on Your Country
First, choose the note naming system that works best for you: A B C D E F G or Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si/Ti.
Choose the alphabetical A B C D E F G system if you live in an English-speaking country.
Choose Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si if you live in a country that uses fixed-do solfege (Do = C) or if you want to learn the Norwich sol-fa system, where “Si” was changed to “Ti” to give each syllable a unique first letter.
Learn more about note names across countries.
Treble or Bass Clef? The Right One Depends on Your Instrument or Vocal Range
The treble clef is used for violin, cello, guitar, mandolin, harp, harpsichord, piano, clarinet, oboe, English horn, organ, accordion, saxophone, trumpet, flute, and French horn.
It’s also used for vocalists singing tenor, soprano, contralto, alto, and mezzo-soprano parts.
The bass clef is used for piano, harpsichord, organ, harp, cello, double bass, trombone, bassoon, contrabassoon, tuba, guitar, and bass guitar.
It’s also used for vocalists singing bass and baritone.
Some instruments, like the piano, require reading both clefs: treble clef for the right hand and bass clef for the left.
Note: The viola uses the C clef placed on the 4th line. Learn more about music clefs.
Video Speed (Adagio, Andante, Moderato)
Most videos designed to help you learn to read music are available at three speeds: Adagio, Andante, and Moderato. Choose the speed that fits your skill level, whether you’re a beginner or want to improve your reading.
If you’re unsure which speed to pick, we recommend starting with Andante (moderately slow).
Choose Your Video
Now you know enough to choose the right video.
As a reminder, Adagio = slow, Andante = walking pace, Moderato = moderate speed.
Treble Clef (G Clef)
- Treble Clef, A H C, Adagio (German notation)
- Treble Clef, A H C, Andante (German notation) – Learn about German notation
Bass Clef (F Clef)
Keyboards (Piano, Harpsichord, Organ)
For keyboard players, Happy Note! offers videos specifically designed to bridge the gap between sheet music and your instrument. In addition to learning to read the notes, each video also shows you the corresponding key on the piano keyboard, helping you to play along instantly.
The Benefits of Learning to Read Notes with Happy Note! Videos
In addition to using colored notes to make it easier to identify new ones, learning with Happy Note! videos comes with many advantages:
Unconscious Ear Training
Listening to the notes while reading or singing them helps train your ear to naturally associate each pitch with its name, improving aural recognition.
Tempo Control
Each video keeps a steady tempo, helping musicians learn how to “keep the beat”—that is, to play without unintentionally speeding up or slowing down. This is essential for mastering an instrument, especially in ensemble playing.
Improved Reading Speed
Thanks to multiple speeds (Adagio, Andante, Moderato), you can progress at your own pace. Two more speeds—Largo (very slow) and Allegro (fast)—are coming soon. Subscribe to the Happy Note! YouTube channel to stay up to date with daily releases.
Learning to Read Music Can Be Fun
If you prefer a more playful approach, choose one of these two options to learn to read music.
A Real Video Game (Treble and Bass Clef)
If you’re on a Windows computer, try the Sheet Music Treble Clef and Bass Clef HN game. (It also lets you choose between the Do Re Mi and A B C notation systems, and even the German one using H instead of B.)
A Fun Video (Treble Clef)
From 2 to 15 notes—can you read the music notes faster than the video?