EGBDF

EGBDF is a mnemonic used in Western music notation to remember the names of the five lines on the treble clef staff. Reading from the bottom line to the top, the notes are E, G, B, D, and F. The spaces on the treble staff spell FACE. This mnemonic helps beginners learn to read staff notation and identify line notes quickly.

The phrase is a common educational tool across music classrooms and is often introduced in early music literacy lessons. It supports sight-reading and helps students associate letter names with their positions on the staff, which is foundational for playing melodies on piano, singing, or playing treble-clef instruments.

Variants of the mnemonic are widely used. The most familiar alternatives include "Every Good Boy Does Fine" and "Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge." Different regions or instructors may favor other phrasing, but the purpose remains the same: to recall the sequence of line notes on the treble clef.

While EGBDF focuses on the treble staff, mnemonics exist for other clefs as well. For example, the bass clef lines spell G-B-D-F-A, and the spaces spell A-C-E-G. Mnemonics are one of several teaching strategies used to develop fluency in reading musical notation, often complemented by other methods such as visual aids, singing, and interactive rhythm exercises.