The Piano Keyboard Keys

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As you look on the piano keyboard keys, you can see that it forms a pattern. There are two groups of black keys in sets of 2 and 3. There are 7 white keys around them. The seven white notes and 5 black notes make up 12 notes.

FIND MIDDLE C

Middle C is where it says it is in the middle of the keyboard usually under the brand name.

Find the two black keys. C is the first white key to the left of the two black keys. The next white note, or D, is between the two black keys. The next white note, or E, is to the one to the right of the two black keys. The next white note, or F, is adjacent to the E key.

Remember that the white keys E to F and B to C are adjacent to each other. There is no black key between them. Then you can remember the white note F by its position to the left of the three black keys.

The next white note, or G, is between two of the black keys. The next white note, or A , is between two of the black keys. The next white note, or B, is to the right of the three black keys. The next note, or C, is the adjacent white key.

Ane finally you are back to C and you have played an octave.

FIND MIDDLE C AND PLAY EVERY WHITE KEY UP TO THE NEXT C.

THIS IS THE C MAJOR SCALE.

Every white piano key is a note in the C major scale.

The notes are C D E F G A B C and they are all white piano keys.

This is the natural C major scale found on any piano.

This is the natural major scale that has no sharps or flats and is all white keys. You can play many songs in this key.

PIANOTIP

Another scale that uses all white keys is the A minor scale. It uses the same piano keyboard keys in a different order.

It is the key that starts in A and uses all the white piano keys.

A B C D E F G A

The only difference here is the distance between any two white notes are in a different order than the C major scale.

In a diatonic scale there are 5 whole steps and two half steps.

In the C major scale the steps are whole step-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half step

In the A minor scale the steps are whole step-half-whole-whole-half-whole-whole step EVERY MAJOR SCALE has a relative scale that is called the RELATIVE MINOR SCALE. The only difference is that it starts on a different note. IT USES THE SAME NOTES.

To find the relative minor scale of any major scale, you go down one and a half steps. It is called the natural minor scale as it occurs naturally on the scale.

HERE IS HOW TO FIND WHOLE STEPS AND HALF STEPS

Look at the white piano keys C and D. There is a black key between them. From any white piano key to a black key is a half step.

From any black key to a white piano key is a half step.

A whole step has two half steps or there is a key between the other keys. From the TWO ADJACENT WHITE KEYS B to C and E to F there is no black key between them. It is a HALF STEP between these two white keys.

From C to D is a whole step. There are two half steps or a black key is between two white keys.

Look at middle C. Go down a half step to the adjacent white key B. Then go down a whole step from B to A. That is one and a half steps. You have found the relative minor scale. The C major scale has the relative minor scale of A minor.

How much fun it is to play 25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago.

This song is in the key of A minor. There is one sharp note played in the bass line. This is called an embellishment or jazzing up a song to make it more interesting. This uses an altered note in the bass line. If you can find where A is, listen to the song bass line and see if you can find the notes of the bass line and the one sharp. Many songs are written in the key of C major or A minor.

REMEMBER

A whole step has two half steps or a piano key is found between the two other keys. Take C to D

C to D is a whole step

There is a black key between the two white keys

Two half steps equal a whole step

From D to E is a whole step There is a black key between the two white keys From E to F two adjacent white keys a half step From F to G is a whole step From G to A is a whole step From A to B is a whole step From B to C two adjacent white keys a half step

In the C major scale you have the notes C D E F G A B C

From C to D is a whole step From D to E is a whole step From E to F is a half step From F to G is a whole step From G to A is a whole step From A to B is a whole step From B to C is a half step.

The major scale is whole step-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half step.

Next lesson is the Grand Staff

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