The names of each piano key and each key’s location on the keyboard can be difficult to remember when getting started playing piano. Print this page (the notes are large enough to see easily from a distance) and place it right above the keys on your piano or keyboard to help you instantly recall the note name for each key.
Piano GlossaryA sharp or flat not in the key signature.
Piano GlossaryA line that divides music into measures, breaking up the musical paragraph into smaller, measurable groups of notes and rests.
Piano GlossaryA musical symbol that indicates lower the notes, generally played with the left hand.
Piano GlossaryThe steady pulse of a piece of music; what you tap your foot to.
Piano GlossaryPlacing your right-hand thumb on middle C and your other right-hand fingers on the four successive white keys.
Piano GlossaryThree or more notes played at the same time.
Piano GlossaryAn order that starts with no sharps and flats and cycles the ring of keys to all 12 keys.
Piano GlossaryA musical symbol that tells you the names of the lines and spaces on the staff.
Piano GlossaryNumbers written above the notes that tell you which finger to use for each note.
Piano GlossaryPlacing your right hand on the G above middle C and your other right-hand fingers on the four successive white keys.
Piano GlossaryThe largest piano. A concert grand is 9 feet long; a baby grand is about 5 feet.
Piano GlossaryThe treble clef and bass clef joined together with a brace at the start of the left side.
Piano GlossaryThe base note of a piece of music. All the notes in a song have a relation to the home note based on how close or far they are to home.
Piano GlossaryThe distance between any two musical notes.
Piano GlossaryA set of notes that corresponds to a certain scale.
Piano GlossaryNotation placed just after the clef on every line of music to tell the performer what key the song is in.
Piano GlossaryAn imaginary line running above or below the staff, extending the five-line staff to represent notes above and below the staff.
Piano GlossaryA batch of notes with a specific number of beats — most commonly four beats — that helps a performer keep time.
Piano GlossaryThe 40th key of a piano, close to the center of the keyboard. The first key a new pianist learns the placement of.
Piano GlossaryA device that allows communication between electronic, digital equipment.
Piano GlossaryThe printed representation of a note. A notehead is oval and may be solid or open, an attached to a stem or not.
Piano GlossaryThe line that tells you to play the indicated note or notes an octave higher or lower than written.
Piano GlossaryThe lowest note of a chord.
Piano GlossaryA series of notes in a specific, consecutive order.
Piano GlossaryThe five lines and four spaces music is written on.
Piano GlossaryHow fast or slow the beat is.
Piano GlossaryThe indication of the meter of a piece of music.
Piano GlossaryThe bottom note of a scale.
Piano GlossaryA musical symbol that indicates higher the notes, generally played with the right hand.
Piano GlossaryThree notes per beat.
Piano GlossaryA piano that sits upright against a wall. Also called verticals, they vary in height from the spinet up to full-size uprights.
