4 sections on this page:

  1. Understanding Piano Keyboards

  2. Make a Paper Keyboard

  3. Understanding Music Notes

  4. Storybee’s Piano Music Notes Flashcards

 

  1. Understanding Piano Keyboards

 
 

A standard piano has 88 keys, 52 white keys and 36 black keys. A standard keyboard has 61 keys, 36 white keys and 25 black keys.

The black key’s width is about 1 cm, it can go up to 1.5 cm including the space gaps from both sides.

The White key’s width is about 2.2 cm. The width can go up to 2.5 cm wide including the gaps between the white keys.

Musical notes are assigned to the white keys. There are seven notes (ABCDEFG). The pattern of the black keys is always the “chopsticks” (2 black keys) and a “Fork” (3 black keys).

C always starts with the “Chopsticks,” and F starts with the “Fork.”



 

by Artur Jan Fijałkowski, source

 

Each vertical line above separating 7 white keys (CDEFGAB) in a group; each group is called “octave.”

The first two keys are called “Sub Contra” or 0 Octave.

The subsequent octave (7 white keys + 5 black keys) is called “Contra Octave.”

The next octave (7 whites + 5 blacks) is called “Great Octave.”

See above graph for the keyboard patterns and names.

 
 

2. Make a Paper Keyboard

 

Materials

Desired print dimensions: 8.5 inches x 11 inches (215 mm × 280 mm) - Canadian A4 size

We group each octave (7 white keys and 5 black keys) in one paper. Cut and connect the pieces together, and you have a paper keyboard to practice at home!

 

3. Understanding Music Notes

 

As you can see, the white keys are labeled with CDEFGAB letters.

How do you label black Keys?

You label the black keys based on their location. If a black key is located at the right side of C, and at left side of D. The black key’s name would be C# or Db.

  • Sharp (#) is used to name a key to the right of (or higher than) a key. In this case, the black key at the right side of the C key is called C#.

  • Flat (b) is used to name a key to the left of another key. In this case explained above, the black key at the left of D can also be called Db, in addition to C#.

Are all sharps and flats black keys only? The answer is no.

Remember the key’s order is: /White/Black/White/Black/White/White/Black/White/Black/White/Black/White/. Because there are white/white, sharps and flats can also be used for white keys.

Piano keys are touch sensitive keys. If you play with greater force, the tone produced is louder.

 
 

4. Storybee’s Piano Music Notes Flashcards

You can learn music notes quicker and better by using Storybee’s Piano Music Notes Flashcards.

 
 

Sample Pages Below - Click on “Details” button

StoryBee’s Digital Piano Music Notes Flashcards

These well-organized flashcards are perfect for beginners learning how to play piano!

This printable includes 30 flashcards:

- 2 musical signs: Treble Clef and Bass Clef

- 14 keys shown on the Treble Clef (G) staff and piano: middle C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, and B

- 14 keys shown on the Bass Clef (F) staff and piano: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, and B


Instructions

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1. Print all pages (double sided, odd numbers: front, and even numbers: back). It is recommended that the file be printed on heavy cardstock. The actual size of the pages are 8.5 inches x 8.5 inches, but you can print them on smaller card by adjusting your printer’s setting.

2. Cut the cards.

3. Laminate all the cards so they can be used over and over again.

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For each flashcard, the learner will guess the piano key, and then play the note on the piano.