Middle C - Why Is It So Important?

A short music theory lesson on why middle C is such an important starting point for musicians. More information on Music Theory Academy: www.musictheoryacademy.com/how-to-read-sheet-music… The lesson asks why students start with this note called "middle C". At first glance, it doesn't appear to be in the "middle of anything". It is not the central note of an 88 key piano - it can't even claim to be the central "C" note as there are 8 C's and so there isn't a "middle" one! It is obvious why pupils start with the note "C" as it is the root note of the C major scale. But what makes this particular middle C so important? The answer lies in where it is positioned in relation to the Grand Staff. Middle C sits on a ledger line below the stave in the Treble Clef and on a ledger line above the stave in the Bass Clef. When you combine these 2 staves together (like you see in piano music) you can see that middle C is a crossover note that links the Treble Clef and the Bass Clef staves. This combination of Treble Clef and Bass Clef is called The Grand Staff and middle C sits in the middle of the Grand Staff - hence its name and its importance.