What is the purpose of a clef in music?

A clef serves a critical role in music notation by indicating the pitch range of notes on the staff. By placing a clef at the beginning of a staff, it defines the position of notes and determines which pitches correspond to the lines and spaces on that staff. For example, the treble clef indicates that the second line from the bottom of the staff represents the note G, while the bass clef designates the second line as F. This helps musicians understand which notes to play or sing based on their instrument's range and the context of the music being performed.

The other options, while related to music, do not accurately describe the primary function of a clef. Enhancing sound quality relates more to instrument techniques or effects, organizing measures pertains to the structure of rhythm and timing rather than pitch, and providing lyrics is a function of vocal parts in music, separate from the notation system dictated by clefs.