Simple Music Dictionary

treble

theory

TREB-ul

The higher range of musical pitch, or the treble clef that notates it.‌​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍

The treble refers to the upper portion of the musical range, as opposed to the bass (lower range).‌​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍ The treble clef (also called the G clef because its spiral wraps around the G line) is the most commonly used clef, notating the range used by most instruments and voices — violin, flute, oboe, trumpet, guitar, and soprano and alto voices.

In audio engineering, treble refers to the high-frequency component of sound (roughly 2,000–20,000 Hz). The treble control on an amplifier or equaliser adjusts this range. In choral music, the treble voice refers to a boy soprano — an unchanged male voice that sings in the soprano range. The term comes from the Latin triplum, the highest voice in medieval three-part singing.

Did you know?

The treble clef is actually an ornate letter G — if you trace its shape, you'll see that the bottom spiral wraps around the second line of the staff, which is the note G.

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