How to Figure Out The Key Notation on a Keyboard

Need to know where the notes are on a keyboard? This article will tell a reader where exactly they are. The end result should be knowledge of the notes without help--which will likely require memorization skills--hence the rating.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Keyboard, Piano, or other keyed instrument--any size keyboard will do
• Removable blank or letter stickers or removable tape

1. 
    
   Keyboard

   The first thing to understand is key placement on the keyboard. Take a look at the image to the left and notice the key placement of two, then three keys. This is an indicator of where the musical notes are placed.

2. 
    
   Lettered Keyboard

   The next thing to understand is that the notation starts with the white keys around the black keys. The first key to the left of the black key starts with "C" and goes through the end of the three black keys to a "B" note. A picture of the keyboard and notation will be shown to the left--click to enlarge and see the full picture.

3. If one is looking to understand where the sharps (#) and flats (b) are, they are on the black keys in between the white keys. As an example, if one is looking for A# or Bb, they are actually the same black key on the keyboard between the A and B keys. It is commonly known as Bb, but some musical pieces I have encountered have referred to it as A#.

4. And now for where most musical pieces start on the keyboard. Find the middle of the keyboard. The first two key sequence to the left of the middle is where most musical pieces are played on the keyboard. So when one sees the lower "C" just below the lines of the treble clef, one will know that this is the note played. In some cases, a few notes below this "C" will be played and often the upper C on the clef some notes beyond the clef will be played. Not all pieces start on the lower end of this range or octave, some start with the higher "C".

5. Practice the placement of these notes with this article and some sheet music--something simple such as "Hot Cross Buns" or "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". Write the letters of the notes next to notes for extra help see my article "How to Understand Musical Notes Corresponding Letters".

6. The keyboard used can be one such as a practice keyboard with the notes clearly marked or one can label it with removable letter stickers or tape. If one has no letter stickers, a pen or marker can be used to write the notes on the tape. However, the goal is to not have to use this someday and memorize the location of the notes.

Tips & Warnings

• This can be used for any type of keyed instrument, such as a piano and others.

Resources

• How to Understand Musical Notes' Corresponding Letters