We will start with basic piano keyboard understanding.

The piano is divided into white keys and black keys.

Each physical key, when pressed, plays a different note which plays a different pitch.

The picture below shows a set of piano keys in a numbered order (the numbers are just for order reference).

The lower the number, the lower the pitch.

The higher the number, the higher the pitch.

Pitch 1 is lower than pitch 4.

Pitch 11 is higher than pitch 5.

OK, you get the picture.

Why do I say in order?

In music, we use a term called a ”STEP”.

The Basics

Steps are just like steps on a staircase.

So let’s say we start, and do the simple math...

Piano key 5 is 2 steps higher than piano key 3.

Piano key 9 is 1 step lower than piano key 10.

Piano key 7 is 2 steps higher than piano key 5.

Piano key 6 is 6 steps lower than piano key 12.

I know you got this, but just take some time and let it completely seep into your being.