‘Symbol on a music staff’ NYT Mini Crossword answer and hints

The word “staff” in today’s NYT Mini Crossword clue is sure to cause confusion. ‘Symbol on a music staff’ literally hinges on you understanding the word “staff” in this context—otherwise, this clue probably isn’t music to your ears.

‘Symbol on a music staff’ NYT Sept. 9 Mini Crossword hints and answer

• Hint one: The answer is a musical symbol.
• Hint two: Almost a chef.
• Hint three: Rhymes with deaf.
• Hint four: It ends with “F.”

Not only is this not an easy clue, but it’s even harder to come up with tips, so let’s dive straight into the answer for you.

You’re looking for the word “CLEF” to solve ‘Symbol on a music staff’ in today’s Sept. 8 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle.

There are different types of clefs, and there’s a chance you might have seen them if you’ve ever glanced at sheet music in your time. Clefs precede a line of notes on a Staff—a series of five lines featuring musical notes—and are a vital part of musical composition.

Every NYT Mini Crossword Sept. 9 answer

Across

• 1A Alternatives to Macs — PCS
• 4A Mountains on the Swiss Miss logo — ALPS
• 6A They hit the books — NERDS
• 8A They bit the hooks — FISH
• 9A “Don’t be that___!” — GUY

Down

• 1D Pot’s flatter counterpart — PAN
• 2D Symbol on a music staff — CLEF
• 3D Thyme piece — SPRIG
• 5D Sch. two hours south of U.C.L.A — SDSU
• 7D Unlikely to approach a stranger at a party — SHY

‘Mountains on the Swiss Miss logo’ NYT Mini Crossword difficulty rating

I love music, but I can’t read or write it for love or money. We’ve all had the joy of enjoying high-school music lessons, but my learnings consisted of playing the keyboard badly and singing out of tune. Learning about Clefs is a foreign language to me—and the clue is hard enough without the confusion of a “staff” being thrown into the mix. Today’s NYT Mini has some very easy clues, but this one is a four out of five for me.

How to play other word games like the NYT Mini Crossword

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