Learn about the grand staff. The grand staff has five lines and four spaces. Every note on the keyboard has a specific location on the grand staff. As notes step from a line to a space to another line, they step up the keyboard. For example, if E is on a line, F is on the space above it and G is on the next line. If the notes skip lines or spaces on the staff, they skip a corresponding number of keys on the keyboard. If your first note is on the bottom line and your second note is in the second space, you count the lines and spaces between the notes. If the first note is G, count up the staff to the first space (A), the second line (B) and then you're at the second note, which is C.
Find landmark notes in bass clef. Landmark notes make it easy to figure out any other note on the staff. Bass clef is the bottom part of the grand staff, usually played with the left hand. In bass clef, find middle C one line above the staff lines. The space notes use the mnemonic "All Cows Eat Grass," starting in the bottom space. The C for "Cows" is one octave below Middle C. The G for "Grass" is the one just below Middle C.
Find landmark notes in treble clef. Treble clef is the top part of the grand staff and is usually played with the right hand. Find middle C one line below the staff lines, the first note in the sheet music example. The Treble clef space notes spell out "FACE," starting in the bottom space. The F is just above middle C, and the C is an octave above middle C.
Learn about different note values and counting beats. The top number in the time signature at the beginning of every song will tell you how many beats per measure (measures are marked out by the vertical lines in your music). Most songs written today have four beats per measure, though some only have three. Any combination of four types of notes can be use in a measure, as long as the total values equal the number in your time signature. Whole notes (a circle) are held for four beats. Half notes (a circle with a stem) receive two beats. Quarter notes (a filled-in circle with a stem) receive one beat. Eighth notes (a quarter note with a flag) are equal to one-half beat.