Before we go any further, let’s review our language.

When we use the word key(s), we are referring to the actual physical wooden keys on the piano keyboard.

NOTE refers to the alphabet letter given to the pitch by calculating its frequency, like A, B, C, etc.

PITCH refers to the actual sound we hear.

Let’s look at the piano a little deeper.

The first seven letters of the alphabet are used to identify the notes on the piano and then they repeat.

The keyboard is made up of white keys and black keys.

The black keys are in groups of 2’s and 3’s.

We learn the names of the notes on the piano by understanding the note relationship between the white and black keys.

The White Keys

Let’s look at the group of 2’s first.

The white key just left of the first black key in the group of 2, is the note C. The next two white keys follow the alphabet D and E.

So in the group of 2’s, the white key notes are C, D, E.

Let’s look at the group of 3’s.

The white key just left of the first black key in the group of 3 is the note F. The next three white keys follow the alphabet G, A, and B.

So in the group of 3’s, the white notes are F, G, A, B.

In complete (total), the 7 white keys on the piano keyboard are:

Looking at the keyboard below you will notice after the note B, the piano repeats itself with C.

In the above picture, there are (3) C notes. If we start from the center and call it middle C we can say:

The lower C is one octave below the middle C.

or

The higher C is one octave above the middle C.

Time to get familiar with the white keys.

Watch the flash card video below. When you see the green key on the screen, say the name of the key out loud. The correct key name will show on the screen a few seconds later. Memorizing the notes on the piano will help you to understand the keyboard and move forward easily in this course.

The Black Keys

The BLACK KEYS on the piano have 2 names.

Let’s look at the notes C and D to start.

There is a black key in between C and D.

That black key has 2 names.

We use the terms SHARP (♯) and FLAT (♭) to express those names.

Sharps and Flats

Using the 2 definitions above, we can say the black key in between C and D will be named, 

C♯ (the C note being raised a half step) or 

D♭ (the D note being lowered a half step).

Looking at the next black key, we see that it is between the keys D and E. Following our sharp and flat definition, the note between D and E would be named 

D♯ (the D note being raised a half step) or 

E♭ (the E note being lowered a half step).

Using the same definition, the rest of the black key names would be:

Time to get familiar with the black keys.

Watch the flash card video below. When you see the green key on the screen, say the name of the key out loud.

Now let’s practice with all the keys together.