C
G A B
C D E F
G A B
F
C D E
A B
Become more confident reading and
playing ledger line notes for piano!
Ledger Lines Study Pack
Become more confident reading and
playing ledger line notes for piano!
You are welcome to print this resource
as many �mes as you like for your own personal use.
If you know others who would find this resource helpful,
please send them this link so they can subscribe and get their own copy:
h�ps://rebeccaspianokeys.com/pianovault/
Thank you, and enjoy!
© Rebecca Reid, RebeccasPianoKeys.com. All rights reserved.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
Ledger Lines Cheat Sheet 4
Ledger Lines Above and Below the Treble Clef Staff 5
Ledger Lines Above and Below the Bass Clef Staff 6
Memorizing Treble Clef Ledger Line Notes 7
Memorizing Bass Clef Ledger Line Notes 8
Using Guide Notes to Read Ledger Line Notes 9
WORKSHEET: Ledger Line Notes Above the Treble Clef Staff 10
WORKSHEET: Ledger Line Notes Below the Treble Clef Staff 11
WORKSHEET: Ledger Line Notes Above the Bass Clef Staff 12
WORKSHEET: Ledger Line Notes Below the Bass Clef Staff 13
List of Ledger Line Practice Pieces 14, 15
3
LEDGER LINES CHEAT SHEET
MIDDLE C
Ledger lines are used to extend the grand staff. Every key on the piano keyboard can be notated on the bass staff, and on the
treble staff.
In theory, this can be done with ledger lines, as seen in the diagram above. But in application, there are more efficient ways to
notate many of the notes (by using clef changes and 8va/15ma symbols). You’ll rarely (if ever) see a note with more than 4 ledger
lines.
4
LEDGER LINES ABOVE THE TREBLE CLEF STAFF
C
G A B
F
C D E
B
F G A
E
B C D
A
MIDDLE C
LEDGER LINES BELOW THE TREBLE CLEF STAFF
C
G A B
F
C D E
A B
MIDDLE C
*Remember that these ledger lines could (in theory) continue all the way to the lowest note of
the keyboard.
5
LEDGER LINES ABOVE THE BASS CLEF STAFF
C D E
A B
E F G
C D
MIDDLE C
*Remember that these ledger lines could (in theory) continue all the way to the highest note of
the keyboard.
LEDGER LINES BELOW THE BASS CLEF STAFF
D E
A B C
F G
C D E
A B
MIDDLE C
6
MEMORIZING TREBLE CLEF LEDGER LINE NOTES
The mnemonics below can help you to memorize the ledger line notes above and below the treble clef staff.
Or feel free to create your own mnemonics!
LINE NOTES ABOVE TREBLE CLEF SPACE NOTES ABOVE TREBLE CLEF
For LINE notes above the treble For SPACE notes above the treble
ANIMALS
staff, use the same mnemonic as
GRASS staff, use the same mnemonic as
FIGHT
bass clef SPACE notes.
EAT bass clef LINE notes.
DOGS
COWS BIG
ALL GREAT
LINE NOTES BELOW TREBLE CLEF SPACE NOTES BELOW TREBLE CLEF
Ledger line mnemonics should always move away Ledger line mnemonics should always move away
from the staff. So mnemonics for notes BELOW a from the staff. So mnemonics for notes BELOW a
staff will move DOWN through the ledger lines. staff will move DOWN through the ledger lines.
CATS DOGS
ARE BITE
FED GIANT
DAILY EAGLES
CAREFULLY
7
MEMORIZING BASS CLEF LEDGER LINE NOTES
The mnemonics below can help you to memorize the ledger line notes above and below the bass clef staff.
Or feel free to create your own mnemonics!
LINE NOTES ABOVE BASS CLEF SPACE NOTES ABOVE BASS CLEF
BIG ANGRY CATS
GROW FIGHT
ELEPHANTS DON’T
CUTE BIRDS
LINE NOTES BELOW BASS CLEF SPACE NOTES BELOW BASS CLEF
Ledger line mnemonics should always move away Ledger line mnemonics should always move away
from the staff. So mnemonics for notes BELOW a from the staff. So mnemonics for notes BELOW a
staff will move DOWN through the ledger lines. staff will move DOWN through the ledger lines.
EAGLES FEARLESS
CAN DEER BOLDLY
ALWAYS GO
FLY EVERYWHERE
8
USING GUIDE NOTES TO READ LEDGER LINE NOTES
C The note 2 ledger lines above the treble
clef is C. Use this as your guide note for
ledger line notes above the treble clef.
The note 2 ledger lines below the bass
clef is C. Use this as your guide note for
C ledger line notes below the bass clef.
READING BASS CLEF LEDGER LINES READING TREBLE CLEF LEDGER LINES
USING GUIDE NOTES USING GUIDE NOTES
1. Start on the nearest (guide note) C
guide note: C. B 1. Start on the nearest
guide note: C.
2. Count by step or by
skip until you arrive 2. Count by step or by
at your target note. skip until you arrive
at your target note.
In this case, the
target note is 1 skip In this case, the
(line to line) below target note is 1 step
the guide note C, so (line to space) below
we know it is an A. the guide note C, so
we know it is a B.
3. Use the same
strategy to locate the 3. Use the same
(guide note) C correct A on the
piano keys.
strategy to locate the
correct B on the
A piano keys.
A C BC
MIDDLE
MIDDLE C
C
9
LEDGER LINE NOTES ABOVE THE TREBLE STAFF
1. Write the letter name in the box beneath each note, then draw a line from the box to the
corresponding key on the piano keyboard.
MIDDLE C
2. For each numbered key on the piano keyboard, write the letter name in the corresponding
numbered box, then use ledger lines to draw the note above the treble clef staff.
1 2 3 4 5 6
MIDDLE C
1 62 3 54
10
LEDGER LINE NOTES BELOW THE TREBLE STAFF
1. Write the letter name in the box beneath each note, then draw a line from the box to the
corresponding key on the piano keyboard.
MIDDLE C
2. For each numbered key on the piano keyboard, write the letter name in the corresponding
numbered box, then use ledger lines to draw the note below the treble clef staff.
1 2 3 4 5 6
MIDDLE C
1 5 36 24
11
LEDGER LINE NOTES ABOVE THE BASS STAFF
1. Write the letter name in the box beneath each note, then draw a line from the box to the
corresponding key on the piano keyboard.
MIDDLE C
2. For each numbered key on the piano keyboard, write the letter name in the corresponding
numbered box, then use ledger lines to draw the note above the bass clef staff.
1 2 3 4 5 6
MIDDLE C
1 64 35 2
12
LEDGER LINE NOTES BELOW THE BASS STAFF
1. Write the letter name in the box beneath each note, then draw a line from the box to the
corresponding key on the piano keyboard.
MIDDLE C
2. For each numbered key on the piano keyboard, write the letter name in the corresponding
numbered box, then use ledger lines to draw the note below the bass clef staff.
1 2 3 4 5 6
MIDDLE C
62 53 1 4
13
LIST OF LEDGER LINE PRACTICE PIECES
Above Below Above Below
Piece RCM Book/Level YouTube
Treble Treble Bass Bass
The Wandering Ogre https://youtu.be/
Prep A Repertoire X
Mark Mrozinski YsvdsUgGOtg
The Calico Cat https://youtu.be/
Prep B Repertoire X X X X
Helen Marlais H2MANokvNdY
Oranges and Lemons https://youtu.be/
Prep B Repertoire X X
English Folk Song arr. Boris Berlin PMbbXK5csaI
New Shoes https://youtu.be/
Prep B Repertoire X X
Linda Niamath cRbFkGtuZJA
Shadow Puppets https://youtu.be/
Prep B Repertoire X X(LH) X X
Edward Han Jiang BLL5kZL1Psc
Paswewe “It Echoes” https://youtu.be/
Prep B Repertoire X X X
Barbara Assiginaak jY4oShz9aco
Roda https://youtu.be/
Prep B Repertoire X(LH)
Oscar Lorenzo Fernandez Jmxe_YIrzzY
Steampunk https://youtu.be/
Prep B Repertoire X
Diane Hidy 4GX68t82Akw
Celebration https://youtu.be/
Lvl 1 Etudes X X X X
Anne Crosby Gaudet 2VE_HDmVpcM
Beaver Boogie https://youtu.be/
Lvl 1 Etudes X
Stephen Chatman pwcH-H_tstA
Niimi Aandeg “Crow Dances” https://youtu.be/
Lvl 1 Repertoire X X
Barbara Assiginaak VqOV37OH-0w
14
LIST OF LEDGER LINE PRACTICE PIECES
Above Below Above Below
Piece RCM Book/Level YouTube
Treble Treble Bass Bass
March of the Terrible Trolls https://youtu.be/
Lvl 1 Repertoire X(RH) X
Linda Niamath XJUClhFLxns
Mist https://youtu.be/
Lvl 1 Repertoire X X(LH) X X
Clifford Poole e_xL2irsS08
The Snake https://youtu.be/
Lvl 1 Repertoire X
Renee Christopher 1kABY7gN0o8
A Cheerful Spirit https://youtu.be/
Lvl 2 Repertoire X X
Daniel Gottlob Turk J6JNKXznjc4
German Dance in G Major
https://youtu.be/
Hob. IX:12, no. 1 Lvl 2 Repertoire X X
e3mzcw6I7FY
Franz Joseph Haydn
Prelude V https://youtu.be/
Lvl 2 Repertoire X X
Barbara Arens q_KL7BkW_1c
The Merry-Go-Round https://youtu.be/
Lvl 2 Repertoire X(LH) X
Boris Berlin _0bTPgUg7dI
The Waltz That Floated Away https://youtu.be/
Lvl 2 Repertoire X X X X
David L. McIntyre bHO4lFe_h2A
Periwinkle Twinkle https://youtu.be/
Lvl 2 Repertoire X X X
Anne Crosby Gaudet kMnEB_ajqHw
In a Canoe https://youtu.be/
Lvl 2 Repertoire X
Pierre Gallant 1E85SNB_Cng
15
