Spot the black-key groups
Black keys appear in small groups of two and three. Find a group of two anywhere on the keyboard. The white key directly to its left is C; the next two white keys are D and E.
Two black keys: C sits just to their left.
On Playroom’s keyboard, the lower range starts at C4. The small number is the octave label: after B4, the next C is C5.
Follow the letters
Move right by white keys and say the seven letters out loud: C, D, E, F, G, A, B. Then the pattern begins again at C. Move left and the same pattern runs in reverse.
Black keys are between some white keys, so the space between two neighboring notes is not always a white key. First learn to find the landmarks; the repeating letter names do the rest.
Try three notes
Find C, then play the white keys to its right in order: C, D, E. Say each name before you press it. Try the same little pattern at the next C to hear the octave change.
Open the online piano and try Meet the keys. The keyboard supports note practice; this browser activity does not assess hand position or physical piano technique.
Written for beginner musicians by Playroom, the team behind these browser instruments and practice activities. Our examples reflect the notes and sounds available in this browser practice room.