Bass Clef

The range of the horn extends from written middle C down for more than 2 octaves. To avoid ledger lines, horn music is sometimes written in bass clef. All horn players must know how to read the bass clef. For help with bass clef notes or fingerings, follow these links.

Bass Clef Bass Clef drill Fingering Chart

The bass clef notes (especially the octave from middle C to the bass clef C) often respond poorly. The answer is usually to practice them extremely loud. After the student has learned to "rattle" the notes, they usually respond better. Lower notes seem to work better.

Bass clef horn music may be transposed either down a fourth from concert pitch (Old Style) or, like treble clef music, up a fifth. The examples below show an F below middle C in both styles. It is the same note. Often the only way to determine the proper clef is by the context of the music and/or the voicing within the ensemble. If bass clef music is not obviously old style notation, it is usually best to assume modern notation.


Modern style bass clef	Old style bass clef

Some bass clef notes, especially those from middle C down to the C in the bass clef, are more responsive on the Bb horn but sound a little hollow. They are best played on the F horn whenever possible.

Notes from the F at the bottom of the bass clef to the C# below the staff are not possible on the F horn and must be played on the Bb side. The low C is easier on the Bb side (1 & 3) but I like it better on the F side. Notes below the low C are possible in theory (down to the written F#) but rarely called for. However they may impress other horn players.