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Piano notes chart

The piano repeats the same 12 notes over and over. Learn one octave and you can name every key on the instrument.

One octave, labeled

One octave of piano keys labeled C D E F G A BCDEFGAB
  • Key 1: C
  • Key 2: C♯ D♭
  • Key 3: D
  • Key 4: D♯ E♭
  • Key 5: E
  • Key 6: F
  • Key 7: F♯ G♭
  • Key 8: G
  • Key 9: G♯ A♭
  • Key 10: A
  • Key 11: A♯ B♭
  • Key 12: B

All 88 keys

Every C is labeled with its octave number. Middle C (C4) is highlighted.

Full 88-key piano keyboard from A0 to C8C1C2C3C4C5C6C7C8

How to find any note in three steps

  1. Find the groups of black keys. They alternate: a group of two, then a group of three.
  2. C is always just left of the two black keys. Then D sits between them and E is on the right.
  3. F is just left of the three black keys. G and A sit between them and B is on the right.

Sharps, flats and naturals

A sharp (♯) raises a note by one key, a flat (♭) lowers it by one key, and a natural (♮) cancels either. Moving one key to the next, white or black, is a half step. There is no black key between E and F or between B and C, so E♯ is the same key as F and B♯ is the same key as C.

Octave numbers

Scientific pitch notation numbers each octave starting from C. The lowest key is A0, middle C is C4, the A above it (A4, 440 Hz) is the note orchestras tune to, and the top key is C8.

Next steps

Once you can name the keys, learn your first chords in the piano chord chart, practice the C major scale, or try them on the virtual piano.

Frequently asked questions

How many keys does a piano have?

A standard piano has 88 keys: 52 white keys and 36 black keys, from A0 at the bottom to C8 at the top.

What are the 7 notes on a piano?

The white keys repeat seven letter names: C, D, E, F, G, A and B. The black keys are the sharps and flats between them, which gives 12 different notes per octave.

Where is middle C on the piano?

Middle C (C4) is the C closest to the centre of the keyboard, usually right in front of the brand name. On an 88-key piano it is the fourth C from the left.

Why do black keys have two names?

Each black key sits between two white keys, so it can be named as the sharp of the lower key or the flat of the upper key. C♯ and D♭ are the same key.