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DictionarystaffMusical notation lines
noun

staff

A set of five parallel lines on which music is written.

The composer writes each note on a five-line musical staff.

Etymology
staffOld Englishstaff or stick

The stick-like line supplies the image for a musical staff. The ordered set of lines supports the placement of written notes.

More examples

  • A treble clef appears at the beginning of the staff.
  • The piano score uses two staves joined by a brace.
  • Notes sit on the lines or in the spaces of the staff.

Forms

staff · staffs · staves

notation noun — A system of symbols for recording music.

clef noun — A sign identifying pitches on a staff.