Piano keys and notes. Get my new book here: Learn to identify the notes on a piano keyboard. The two notes on a piano keyboard that come before C1 are A0 and B0. However, despite its goal of simplifying things, some confusion may arise with pitch notation because there are a few main systems in use. These are: Scientific Pitch Notation (SPN) American system, pictured above. Full SPN keyboard.
Keyboard Key Notes
Are you in search of a full piano key chart? You will find one below. We’ve already looked at a simple piano keyboard diagram (free piano keyboard chart) here but this time we take things a little further. With this free chart we explain sharps and flats in more detail.
For more on this topic and to learn how to play the piano, check out my course, Piano Lessons For Beginners: Learn Piano Quickly And Easily.
We’ve already seen that the notes on a piano are named after the first seven letters of the alphabet. When learning the keys on a piano the first notes to learn are A B C D E F G. These are the naturals. They are usually the names given to the white keys on a piano. Notice I said “usually”. This is because white keys can also be sharp and flat. Many piano students do not know or are confused by this point. Many of them think that a black key means a sharp or flat while the white keys are neither sharp nor flat. Not so. While all black keys are either sharp or flat, white keys can be sharp or flat as well.
Let’s examine this further.
Look closely at the piano key chart above. In this piano keyboard chart most of the keys have two note names. For instance, the note one semitone higher than C is C sharp, but since it is one semitone lower than D it is also called D flat. In the same way the note one semitone higher than D is D sharp, but since it is one semitone lower than E it is also called E flat.
Technically, a key can have a limitless number of note names. It’s all about steps or tones. For instance, (as can be seen in the piano key chart or piano keyboard chart above) C is one semitone (one half step) higher than B and can be called B sharp. But since it is two semitones lower than D it can be called D double flat as well. Using this same principle the note one semitone higher than E is F, but it can also be called E sharp. F can be called G double flat or even D triple sharp!
If two notes have the same pitch but are represented by different letter names and accidentals, they are enharmonic. F, E sharp and D triple sharp are enharmonic equivalents. Enharmonic notes are usually used by composers to make the note’s place in the harmonies of a piece of music clearer to the performer. So if necessary, a composer may very well prefer to write an E sharp or even a D triple sharp instead of an F.
In a diatonic scale an individual note may not occur more than once. Here are two examples. In the key of G the major scale is G A B C D E F-sharp. Instead of calling the note G flat, we call it F sharp. This is because we have already used the letter G in the scale. G cannot be used twice.
Here’s another example. The notes in the key of F major are F G A B-flat C D E. We do not call B flat “A sharp” in this scale since we need that note name to represent the note A which has already been used. Also, the letter B had to be part of the scale.
Spend time going through the piano key chart on this page. Using the information presented here you should be able to find any key easily.
Here’s some more information on the layout of piano keys as well as a printable piano keyboard template for beginners.
Personally, I’m not a fan of the traditional way in which piano has been taught. If you want to learn to play piano the easy way go here. This is a much faster way to learn piano. Click here for the best online course I’ve seen on learning how to play piano.
Comments
comments
The purpose of this website: helping you learn to play the piano. Building a strong foundation of piano-playing skills will lead to a lifetime of piano-playing joy.
Piano notes are easy to learn, both on the staff and on the keyboard. The following images should be helpful for familiarization with the piano keys and how they correspond to the music.
First you'll see the basic 38 notes every pianist should know by sight on the grand staff (19 notes in bass clef, 19 notes in treble clef).
Then, you'll see a more extensive listing of the bass clef notes and the treble clef notes separately. Hopefully this will go far to aid your understanding of how the notes on the keyboard relate to the notes on the music staff.
Knowing the notes on the staff, and where to find them on the piano, is definitely an important part of learning to read music at the piano. Take the time to learn each note and be able to find it quickly on the keys. It's worth it.
[As you become more and more familiar with the notes on the staff and on the keyboard, you will find your understanding of scales and chords growing more and more clear. Not only will your reading ability improve, but your ability to learn and memorize music, analyze music, and write your own compositions. With basic note reading and keyboard geography skills, all of these things become part of your piano-playing existence. Without the basic note knowledge, these things become nearly impossible. So take the time to learn the notes on the staff and how they correspond to the keys, and you will be thankful that you did. The rest of your piano-playing life will benefit greatly.]
One of the most basic ways of learning the notes is through the use of flashcards.(click here for a good set of affordable, high quality flashcards.)
Video: 'How To Practice Note Flashcards'
This video shows how easy it can be to learn the notes, using flashcards grouped according to the most easy to recognize notes on the staff. (If my five-year-old daughter can do it, so can you.)
For a more complete understanding of how to build your piano-playing foundation, read
'Piano Player.. You'.
For the most direct, organized, and progressive path to learning to play the piano, start
the Piano Skills Foundation series of piano lessons.
(Advertisement)
Piano Notes:
The Pianist's Most Necessary Note Repertoire
Notice that many notes (in this case, 7 notes) can be written and played in either bass clef or treble clef. People tend to be confused about this. Hopefully, this illustration helps alleviate any such confusion.
Bass Clef
Treble Clef
A Simple (& Slightly Silly) Way To Learn The Notes:
For a more basic study of the notes, with illustrations and easy tricks to aid in the learning process,
Full Keyboard Smartphone
go to'Piano Notes Chart'
If you want to see a blueprint for a successful piano journey..
read
'Piano Player.. You'
A guide to building a solid and complete piano-playing foundation.
If you would like a step-by-step guide to help you on your piano journey..
start working through
'The Piano Skills Foundation' piano lessons
Looking for some piano music?
I have found Sheet Music Plus to be a fantastic resource for piano books & other materials. And they have instant digital downloads for thousands of individual pieces.
3 Ways To Support This Website
If you enjoy using true-piano-lessons.com and would like to help support it:
Full Piano Keyboard With Notes
1. Buy the ebook, 'Piano Player.. You'
2. Purchase 'Piano Skills Foundation'
3.Donation Ejercito argentino 1911 serial numbers.