General: The superiority of the bass clef over the treble clef
February 14th, 2008
Once again, I wonder if such cropping is good. This is a closeup on a tuba, which plays with a bass clef
The origins
In the restrictive family of ‘clefs’ in musical notation, we usually find the treble clef, the bass clef, and on some occasions, the tenor clef and ripoffs of each of these symbols, like the baritone, subbass, alto or the soprano clefs. There is also the neutral/percussion clef, but it’s like the criminal kid of the family nobody talks about, so we’ll not even consider it. We used to have different clefs though, namely the D-clef and Gamma-clef, which were used to indicate the notes on the first line of the bass clef, but they stopped being used through time.
So it seems there is a natural evolutionary process between different clefs within the same family, and only the fittest survive: It seems apparent the bass clef got rid of the other keys, making it a potential ‘badass’ notation mark, causing the end and despairs of its rivals.
But what makes a key superior to another? How does the evolutionary process work? First, let’s see the evolution of the treble and bass clef:
Treble key evolution:
Bass Clef evolution:
From what we can gather here, treble clef evolved in a much smore stylistic way. The swirls all around the place, a continuous curvy line folding over itself in all its grace. On the other hand, you have the bass clef. Short, sturdy, with dots on its right. Let’s draw a list of the evolutionary processes of both.
Treble clef:
- Really stylistic “G”
- Even more stylistic “G”
- Even more stylistic “G” than before, and some accent on superfluous style.
- We do not need the “G” anymore. The treble clef is a beautiful clef as it is!
Bass Clef:
- Simple efficient “F”: You know why you’re here.
- Stylistic F, trying to look better.
- Fuck style. Style pisses me off, I turn into a frown.
- Even more accentuated frown. Eyes were so angry they went somewhere else.
But where did they go? Why are they back now? My theory is simple: they went away to kick some ass, possibly those of the potentially really stylistic D-clef and gamma-clef. These clefs disappeared because they got their shit fucked up bad by a really pissed-off bass clef. Then the eyes came back and we have the modern bass clef:
The Evolutionary strategies
Past evolutionary strategies are of course interesting, but what’s even better is guessing what the future will reveal us from these traits. So we have two opponents: The stylish great looking Treble clef, and the useful and pissed off Bass clef. The way things are:
- The Treble clef is just going to get prettier and prettier with time. This has a few potential effects: The clef looks so great people do not care about the Bass clef anymore and it disappears;
- The Treble clef looks so good it ends up being hypnotizing, to the point where humanity is at risk. Too much beauty for our tiny human brains to process.
Style has a downside, though: you get more fragile and restricted. This is where the Bass clef stands its chance. It’s overly simplistic and can adapt to lots of situations by its robustness. During the past, bass clefs managed to get out of trouble while using their simple shapes to their advantage by entertaining us:
Link
How cuter can this be? Cute big eyes, a great pompadour haircut, a probably deep charming voice: the Elvis of musical notation. This kind of ruse is what the Bass clef needs and is also a minimalist example of what it can do. This is not just a defense mechanism, it’s also an offense one. Could the Treble clef say as much?
No, it could never. What we see here is a Treble clef where it belongs: fancy clefs go with fancy underwear. While our killer Bass clef can withstand harsh conditions and spend an impressive number of consecutive days in a spinning drier, the Treble clef has to stay immobile with the silk undies while it slowly dries in the sun, caressed by the lovely elements of summer. This is what it can do.
The Outcome
This will bring us to dangerous events. The Treble clef is there, making us say “aaaw” in admiration as it stands there innocently like a musical Bambi. The Bass Clef is a pissed off shape-shifting force of nature that’s coming toward the Treble Clef in a menacing manner, like fire on oil. If you have not watched Bambi and have the same ideal ending to it as I have, the fire is going to kill Bambi. The Bass clef will kill the Treble Clef (and possibly kill its mothers, unless the hunters did that.)
Learning is a crucial thing, and I hope you did learn something while enjoying this piece of history. Building one’s strength on appearances only will apparently take away the existence of the G-clef. We’ve also seen how preserving feelings of anger can bring you to the top, another important lesson. With some perspective, time will tell if we may see how the percussion clef could team up with the bass clef to prepare a coup against the tenor clef.
Why, oh God why?
I wrote this little story after some light-hearted discussions with my girlfriend, exchanging drawings on the subject. I really liked how this could turn and decided to push it far enough. I really hope some people managed to like it even though it’s extremely stupid/childish/absurd. Come on, I even took the time to draw/animate these little things.
The Treble clef is just going to get prettier and prettier with time. This has a few potential effects: The clef looks so great people do not care about the Bass clef anymore and it disappears;
That’s the only possible scenario; the Treble clef is the best one EVER and NOTHING can change that. And its evolution is SO much better. Look at that Bass clef, at first! It’s so ridiculous looking.
Fact: the Treble key is like a SNAKE (with all the swirls) and will CHOKE the Bass key.
TAKE THAT!
This is clearly not what the last picture depicts, though. I have a degree in INVENTING BULLSHIT that I use all the time. It comes in handy.
I can say bullshitty stuff too.
You only say all that against the treble clef ’cause you can’t play it. *na na na na nère*
Because I can hardly play it, yes. Maybe you’d have less fun on your fancy piano if the bass clef notes were written on the trebble staff.
I can actually go two octaves above the bass staff, so it’s a lot of annoying reading when you’re going in an ascending movement, and you end up modulating AND switching staves in the middle of a song out of nowhere. It’s only annoying on the first few reads, though.
I’m going to get used to it, it’s not like nobody else is able to do it.
EDIT: I can read runs of chords, if that’s a redeeming thing. ;_;
WTF you guys talking about.
I barely can read any music sheets, all song I know were learned by ear.
BTW, the treble clef looks like a failed fluffy pretzel.
Should we not consider the possibility that the two clefs can live together in harmony, as they have done for some time on piano music. Granted, they keep their distance from eachother, but that seems to be sufficient.
On a more serious note (yay puns), why is the G-clef named the G-clef, and F-clef F? On the first, the G is the highest representable note, and on the second it’s the lowest. It makes no sense!
To say it’s the lowest representable note is kind of wrong (I’m pretty sure you know this already) as you can just add lines under or above the staff.
Let’s use this reference picture: http://parseidon.com/wp-content/uploads/clefs.gif
If you look hard enough at the G-clef, you’ll see where the clef circles around the G line; on the F-clef, the F line is imprisonned between the two dots. That way, it’s kind of easy to know what the clef shows.
If you wanted you could use the F-clef on A (having the top line surrounded by two dots): This would just design the A line as the new F line. The type of clef you use will define the octave:
A C-clef will be put to indicate the middle C; the G clef points to the G above middle C, and the F clef points to the F under the middle C.
As to why the notes C, F and G were chosen, I don’t really know. It comes from Gregorian chants, and the people writing the music would only refer to the notes before anything. It’s with time that the clefs became kind of abstract symbols.
The more intricates details probably refer to Gregorian chant theory, although there are some distinctions and links that can be made. It could be harmonies; each note refers to those of a Major F chord (F-C-G). I can’t say I know for sure.
Gregaryan chants are a pretty neat idea you know.
This is EPIC. Have you submitted this to ABS? Sure, not many people appreciate it, but…I loved every minute reading it.
Nah, anyway, AB pretty much refused tu publish my previous stuff unless I took it off my own website before.
He’s a bit of an asshole about his content, plus he has a good history of asking for services from members all the time while he earns his life charging other people for that (that’s pretty generic actually).