Piano keys explained

The pattern of white and black keys

Look at the black keys: they come in groups of two and three. This pattern repeats along the whole keyboard and is how pianists find their place. The white key just to the left of a group of two black keys is always C. The white key just to the left of a group of three is always F.

The white keys are named with the first seven letters of the alphabet: C D E F G A B. After B the names start again at C.

Black keys: sharps and flats

Each black key has two names. The black key just to the right of C is C sharp (C♯), and it is also the key just to the left of D, so it is called D flat (D♭) too. Sharp means one key higher, flat means one key lower. Which name is used depends on the key of the music.

Moving from any key to the very next key, white or black, is called a semitone or half step. Two semitones make a whole step.

Octaves and middle C

From one C to the next C is an octave: twelve semitones, made of seven white keys and five black keys. Notes an octave apart share the same name and sound alike, the higher one at twice the frequency.

To tell octaves apart, notes get a number. In the common system called scientific pitch notation, middle C is C4. It sits roughly in the middle of a piano, and it is the C you find just left of the two black keys nearest the centre of the keyboard. The A above it, A4, is the tuning note, set at 440 Hz in standard modern tuning. Middle C is about 261.6 Hz.

Why a piano has 88 keys

Most modern pianos have 88 keys. Smaller keyboards often have 61 or 76 keys, which is enough for most beginner music. You can try the whole range on the 88-key virtual piano.

Do, Re, Mi

In many countries the notes are named Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si instead of C D E F G A B. Set Names to Do Re Mi under the piano to see them. This page uses "fixed do", where Do is always C.