Hobbies Playing Music The Definition F-clef Share PINTEREST Email Print K.E. French Playing Music Playing Piano Tutorials Piano Chords Buying Advice Music Education Playing Guitar Home Recording By Brandy Kraemer Updated on 07/21/18 The F-clef is another term for the bass staff, which is the large musical symbol at the beginning of the piano’s bottom staff (or bass staff). It is called the F-clef because its top curl and two dots highlight the staff's F line. Notes on the bass staff fall around middle C and below, and, for the most part, are played with the left hand. A smaller F-clef may appear temporarily to indicate a switch into the bass register. The treble equivalent of this term is the G-clef. Musical Keys & Key Signatures Major and minor chords are often described in terms of feelings or mood. The ear tends to perceive major and minor chords as having contrasting personalities; a contrast that is most obvious when the two are played back to back.