Observe the lines of the treble clef. The pitches on these lines from bottom to top are E, G, B, D, F. Some people use the phrase "Every Good Boy Does Fine" to remember these pitches.
Look at the spaces of the treble clef. The pitches from bottom to top are F, A, C, E. This is easy to remember, since the letters spell the word "face."
Remember the musical alphabet for the pitches that lie above and below the treble clef staff. The musical alphabet can also help you to remember the pitches that lie on the staff.
The notes of the musical alphabet are A, B, C, D, E, F, G. These pitches repeat over and over, alternating between a line and a space, throughout both staffs. For instance, the pitch that is just under the bottom line of the treble clef is D, since the note on the line is E. The note above E, which is in the first space is F, and so on. Notes that are below or above the lines are sometimes written on ledger lines. For instance, middle C is just under D, and it has a tiny line running through it (a ledger line).
Learn the notes that are on the lines of the bass clef. From bottom to top, they are G, B, D, F, A.
Look at the notes in the spaces of the bass clef. They are A, C, E, G.
Read notes on ledger lines below or above the bass clef the same way that you would ledger line notes in the treble clef. For instance, you could write middle C above the top line of the bass clef, but not touching the line. Middle C would also have a line through it. If you were to write a D, it would be above the top line of the bass clef, with a ledger line just below it (since it is just above middle C).
Look for sharps and flats. A sharp is written as "#," and a flat is written as "b." A sharp next to a note means that you play the note one half step higher. A flat next to a note means that you play the note one half step lower. The musical alphabet with half steps included consists of A, A#/Bb, B, C, C#/Db, D, D#/Eb, E, F, F#/Gb, G, G#/Ab.
You also can find out which notes will be sharp and flat throughout the piece of music by looking at the key signature at the beginning of a piece of music. The key signature has sharp or flat signs written on the lines or spaces that correspond with the notes that will be played sharp or flat.
Look for the time signature at the beginning of the treble and bass clefs. The time signature is one number on top of another, such as 4/4. The top number indicates how many beats will be in each measure. The measures are divided by vertical bar lines through both clefs.
Look for notes that get one beat each. These usually are quarter notes, and they look like a black circle with a line (stem) attached.
Look for notes that get two beats each. These usually are half notes. They look like quarter notes except the circle has a black outline and is not filled in with color.
Look for notes that receive four beats each. These usually are whole notes. They look like half notes (not filled in), but they do not have a stem.
Look for notes that get half of a beat each. These are eighth notes. They look like quarter notes, except that their stems have a flag or are connected to each other.