Reference · module 3
The keyboard
Everything this module explains, on one page.
Finding notes on a keyboard
Find any white-key note on a piano keyboard at a glance.
- A piano keyboard repeats one pattern of twelve keys: seven white and five black. The white keys are the seven note names, C D E F G A B.
- Black keys come in groups of two and three. C is always the white key just left of a group of two black keys, which is how you find it anywhere on the keyboard.
- Between E and F, and between B and C, there is no black key. Everywhere else, two neighbouring white keys have a black key between them.
The mistake you are about to make
C = left of three black keys
C = left of two black keys
There are two kinds of groups, and it is easy to mix up which one C belongs to. Left of the three black keys is F; C sits left of the two.
Sharps and flats
Raise and lower notes, and know that one key can have two names.
- A sharp ♯ raises a note to the very next key up, usually a black one: F♯ is the black key right of F. A flat ♭ lowers a note to the next key down: B♭ is the black key left of B.
- So every black key has two names. The key between C and D is C♯ and also D♭; they sound exactly alike, and which name is written depends on the key of the music.
- Sharps and flats can land on white keys too. E♯ is the next key up from E, which is F, and C♭ is the next key down from C, which is B.
The mistake you are about to make
E♯ = a black key
E♯ = F
A sharp usually means a black key, so E♯ should be one. There is no black key after E: the next key up is F itself.
Semitones and tones
Measure the distance between keys in semitones and tones.
- A semitone is the smallest step on a keyboard: from any key to the very next one, black or white. C to C♯ is a semitone, and so is E to F.
- A whole tone is two semitones, skipping one key. C to D is a whole tone, because C♯ lies between them. D to E is also a whole tone.
- Between white keys the steps are whole tones, except E–F and B–C, which are semitones. This uneven pattern is what gives scales their character.
The mistake you are about to make
E to F = a whole tone
E to F = a semitone
E to F is the next letter, like C to D, so it seems the same size. There is no black key between them: it is a semitone.