Please Layout Piano Keys for me...

Before we start... Have you went through the Introduction yet ?
If you didn't and you just started learning to play the piano then I suggest you consider starting from the beginning of the complete beginning piano lessons course to be sure you're familiar with all the terms I'm going to mention here.

So, you want me to layout piano keys for you? In this page (which is a crucial part of both our piano courses) I will draw a piano keyboard template that will show you where each keys is located on the piano along with it name.

But first I'd like to point at the directions of the piano so that you'll understand what I mean when I say: "Go higher or lower on the piano."

Recommended - Why should you Choose the Alfred's Basic Piano Course - Lesson Book Complete Level 1 (1a/1b)?

I have written a page where I share my opinion of the top Piano Method Books.
The book I use with my student is the Alfred's Basic Piano Course - Lesson Book Complete Level 1 (1a/1b).

It's a faster-paced version of Levels 1A and 1B that gets to staff reading more quickly. Perfect for a student who is 8 or older, or for a younger beginner with great musical aptitude.

Directions

Going up on the keyboard
means we are playing higher and thinner sounds.



When we go down
the sound gets deeper and lower.

Remember these directions as we continue in our piano lesson.
From now on we will name them so.

How to Tell One Key from the Other?

When you layout piano keys one after the other, can you see a pattern in the way the keyboard is organized?

Now if you look at the keyboard you'll notice there are black keys and white keys.
The black keys are divided to groups of 2's and 3's.

This pattern helps us to orient ourselves on the keyboard.

We name the keys after the first seven letters of the alphabet.

Try to call out the letter from A to G as fast as possible. Now try to do the same but backwards. Harder, right? :) This is a funny exercise to do and will help you to realize faster where you're at on the piano.

A is the lowest white key on the piano.
The other keys are named respectively after that first A.

It's easy to spot the white keys by the black ones.
Look at the images. This layout piano keys shows you where a specific key is located.

This is a Printable Piano Key Chart. Click here to view it.

Try to find all the C keys on the piano. There are 8 of them. (Maybe less if you have a keyboard or a smaller instrument).

There's a really entertaining way to learn to recognize the piano keys names faster. I advise my students to buy the Piano KEYBOARD DECALS KIT from Ebay which help them to know the key names real quick.

This kit is the ideal teaching aid to help beginning piano students learn the keyboard.
24 decals show the position of the note as it appears on the sheet of music, and gives the name of the note by means of a large letter. These decals are dry-stick/static type that can be removed without leaving any residue once you're familiar with the keyboard.

Now, here am I talking on and on about the layout piano keys lesson but I never stopped to ask you if you already have a keyboard?
It's necessary of course to have a descent piano or a good keyboard in order to practice everything we learn.

If you're hesitating whether to buy a piano or an electronic keyboard I suggest you check our Piano vs. Keyboard page. You'll find there all the advantages and disatvantages of both instruments.

Middle C

Play an orientation game to get familiar with the piano keys. Press on a key blindly, open your eyes and try to figure out as fast as possible which key you're playing.

The nicest thing about knowing the different piano keys is that you can now play piano by ear. The "300pg Piano By Ear Home Study Course" could be perfect for those of you who'd like to go in this direction.
You'd love this course since it is so accesible for beginners and you'll hear yourself playing beatiful songs before you know it.

Done? Perfect.

Now you can find your way on the piano and understand the terms I'm using.

Next, I'd like us to start playing piano by ear but before that I suggest you click here to read this page over piano fingering.

If you're already curious about the black key names you can Click here to learn about it, but we'll get there later in our full piano course anyway.

You can also choose to follow the basic piano chords lessons, now that you're familiar with the piano keys names. Click here to go to the Introduction to Piano Chords.