The key a piece is written in will determine which notes are sharp or flat, and keys are based on their corresponding scales. The reason for this is because music is written in keys. Notes that sound the same but have two different names are known as enharmonic notes. You probably also noticed that some keys have more than one note name. The first notes are a half step (specifically C to D#) and the second notes are a whole step (specifically C to D). Therefore, the space between those two sets of notes is also a half step. Normally this is a black key to a while key, but between E and F and between B and C there is no black key. Sharps and flats raise or lower a note by a half step respectively, and the space between notes that are next to each other on the keyboard is a half step.

When talking about steps, especially in relation to scales, we talk about half steps and whole steps. Music moves in steps going up or down in pitch. The b represents flat notes and the # represents sharp notes. You may have noticed that some notes have a b or a # next to the letter name. Once you know the note names for the 12 keys shown above you’ve learned the entire keyboard! On the full keyboard this pattern repeats seven times, hence the seven octaves.

Notice that there are five black keys, broken into a set of two and a set of three. On the piano keys chart above, we’ve pulled out a section of the keyboard and labeled all the keys with their letter names. The distance between a note and the next time that note repeats on the keyboard is called an octave. While every pitch will sound different, the notes repeat in a series ranging from A-G. Use this piano keys chart to learn the note names and their corresponding places on the staff and you’ll be on your way to playing piano in no time! Piano Keys Chart: The KeyboardĪ full piano keyboard consists of 88 keys spanning seven octaves plus a minor third. That’s not to say that becoming a proficient piano player is quick and easy, but it does make the beginning stages of learning a bit easier. Unlike other instruments that take time to learn all the various positions and embouchure techniques for different notes, the piano keys are all there in front of you waiting to be played. One of the best things about beginning to learn piano is that the keys are easily laid out for you.

Image of keyboard keys