在音乐范畴中，五线谱是一种为人熟悉的音乐标记方式，利用五条平行横线，在其上面记入标示不同音高及拍子的音符。这些线，可称为「五线谱」或简称「谱表」（Staff or Stave）。并依据拍子记号将五线谱上音符依拍分成小节，用小节线标示。

在五线谱上，音高是由下而上标示，位于较高在线的音符代表较高音高；而时间则由左至右标示，左面的音符会比右面的较早演奏出来。当然，演奏记在谱表上的乐曲时，音高、速度等比例会因不同的音乐符号或标示而有所不同。

In Western musical notation, the staff, or stave, is a set of five horizontal lines and four spaces that each represent a different musical pitch—or, in the case of a percussion staff, different percussion instruments. Appropriate music symbols, depending on the intended effect, are placed on the staff according to their corresponding pitch or function. Musical notes are placed by pitch, percussion notes are placed by instrument, and rests and other symbols are placed by convention.