The staff (stave) is a system of five parallel horizontal lines and the spaces between them, on and between which notes are placed. The higher a note sits on the staff, the higher its pitch; thus pitch is turned into a spatial “map,” intelligible at a glance.
The modern five-line staff took shape in Europe over the Middle Ages (an important step was taken by the theorist Guido of Arezzo in the 11th century). At the start of the staff a clef is placed, which sets the exact pitch of the notes, along with the time and key signatures. For notes that go beyond the five lines, short ledger lines are used. The staff is a brilliant invention that made it possible to fix and transmit music precisely across centuries and continents, enabling the existence of a complex polyphonic musical culture.
