[?] Subscribe To This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines


Home
What's New?
Piano Diagram
Free Piano Lessons
Piano Notes
Learn Piano
Ask Questions
How To Play Piano
Virtual Piano
Piano Chords
Key Signatures
Piano Scales
Piano Lesson Software
Piano History
Yamaha Keyboards
Casio Keyboards
Roll Up Piano
Contact
Privacy Policy

Piano Keyboard Diagram - Piano Keyboard Layout

A piano keyboard diagram is shown and explained below. This material will help you better understand the layout of a piano keyboard.

Let's first of all take a look at an unlabeled piano keyboard layout, i.e. without the note names. The one shown in the first piano keyboard diagram has two octaves, a total of 24 notes. In an 88 key piano, there are 36 black notes and 52 white notes. 76 key keyboards come with 31 black notes and 45 white notes, 61 key keyboards come with 25 black notes and 36 white notes, while 49 key keyboards have 20 black notes and 29 white ones.

piano keyboard keys - 88 key keyboard

Someone new to the piano may feel overwhelmed when they first take a look at its keys. "How do I remember so many notes?" But as we shall see later it is very simple to understand. Hint: repetition.

Here's a simple piano keyboard diagram (below this paragraph). The white notes are all labeled. If you look closely, you will realize that the same note names are being repeated over and over. These notes are A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Whether it's a 49, 61, 76 or 88 key keyboard, this is the note pattern of a piano.

piano keyboard diagram

In the piano keyboard layout immediately below this paragraph, I have ventured to add a more complete piano keyboard diagram. As you will see, both the black and white notes have been named. As for the black notes, they each have two note names. There's D-Flat (or C-Sharp), E-Flat (or D-Sharp), G-Flat (or F-Sharp), A-Flat (or G-Sharp) and B-Flat (or A-Sharp).

piano keyboard diagram


To help you better understand sharps (♯) and flats (♭), let's find out what a semitone is. A semitone is also called a half step or half tone and is the smallest interval used in Western music. It is the distance between two notes which are next to one another in pitch. So the distance between C and C-Sharp is one semitone, the distance between D and D-Sharp is one semitone and the same can be said for the distance between A and A-flat.

What is the note that is one semitone higher than C? The answer is C-Sharp. What is the note that is one semitone higher than D? The answer is D-Sharp. Let's go the other way around. What is the note that is one semitone lower than D? The answer is D-Flat. One semitone lower than E? It's E-Flat.

A whole tone means a distance of two semitones, i.e. the distance between two notes which are separated by one other note in pitch. For instance, C and D, D and E, and F and G are each one whole tone apart.

piano keyboard layout

A piano comes with a 12 note pattern. This can be seen in the piano keyboard diagram above. While there are many notes on a piano, it's really 12 notes being repeated over and over. On an acoustic piano it is repeated over 7 times. We see in our piano keyboard layout above that the 12 notes are C, C-Sharp (D-Flat), D, D-sharp (E-Flat), E, F, F-Sharp (G-Flat), G, G-Sharp (A-Flat), A, A-Sharp (B-Flat), and B. Take a look at the piano keyboard chart below. It consists of the 12 notes of a piano or music keyboard.

piano keyboard notes

To better understand the piano keys layout see how the black keys on a piano are grouped together in groups of two's and three's. Do you notice how many groups of two's there are? How about the groups of three's?

You will also notice that the note C always comes before the group of 2 flats (or sharps), while F always comes before the group of 3 flats (or sharps). On a 49 key keyboard, there are 5 C's, on a 61 and 76 key keyboard there are 6 C's, and there's 8 on an 88 key keyboard.

  • The first note on a 49 key keyboard is C and the last note is C.

  • The first note on a 61 key keyboard is C and the last note is C.

  • The first note on a 76 key keyboard is E and the last note is G.

  • The first note on an 88 key piano is A and the last note is C.

    If you have an 88 key piano look at your piano keyboard layout and find middle C. Middle C lies in the exact center of your keyboard. The location of this note is very important to remember when learning to play the piano.

    The piano keyboard diagram below shows the various piano notes C, D, E, F, G, A and B. There's a treble clef, a bass clef and a grand staff. Notice that the "C" in the treble clef and the "C" in the bass clef are the same note. This is the point where they cross and meet on the Grand Staff. It is known as Middle C.

    piano keyboard picture

    Piano Keyboard Keys Layout - 49 Key Piano Keyboard Notes

    The following is the layout of notes on a 49 key piano keyboard.

    piano keyboard keys layout - 49 key piano keyboard notes

    Piano Keyboard Keys Layout - 61 Key Piano Keyboard Notes

    The following is the layout of notes on a 61 key piano keyboard.

    piano keyboard keys layout - 61 key piano keyboard notes

    Further Reading

  • Full Piano Key Chart

  • Printable Piano Keyboard Template

  • Piano Notes and Keys

  • Free Piano Lessons

    What Is Your Piano Keyboard Diagram/Layout Related Question?

    Do you have a 'piano keyboard diagram/layout' related question? Ask it here...

    Enter Your Question Title

    Ask Your Question! [ ? ]

    Upload A Picture (optional) [ ? ]

    Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional) 

    Click here to upload more images (optional)

    Author Information (optional)

    To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

    Your Name

    (first or full name)

    Your Location

    (ex. City, State, Country)

    Submit Your Contribution

    Check box to agree to these submission guidelines.


    (You can preview and edit on the next page)

    What Other Visitors Have Asked

    Click below to see questions and answers from other visitors to this forum...

    What about a 32 key keyboard diagram - like a Casio Rapman   starstarstarstarstar
    I have an old Casio Rapman- Not sure which keys are which. Do you have a diagram for one?

    bass cleff piano diagrams  starstarstarstarstar
    I have a piano and I know what the notes are on the right hand but I don't know what the notes are on the left hand and where they are on the piano. Please ...

    Diminished chord when Playing accompaniment  starstarstarstarstar
    Does anybody know if it is possible to make a diminished chord with the left hand with accompiment set for fingering on the Yamaha Tyros 2 keyboard.

    61 Key Keyboard !  starstarstarstarstar
    Im am just starting to play the keyboard and I have a 61 key keyboard but I cant find the layout of it anywhere ?

    i cant find a website that will show me what the keys are to a 49 key keyboard  starstarstarstarstar
    i cant find any where that can tell me what the keys are to a 49 key keyboard. can you help me please?

    piano keys - 49 key keyboard pattern  starstarstarstarstar
    what is the whole pattern of a 49 keyed keyboard

    Name of full 88 key board  Not rated yet
    An illustration was seen while looking at a dictionary which illustrated the full 88 keys in a vertical plane, with Middle C bisecting the vertical line ...

    61 key keyboard notes  Not rated yet
    I just touched a keyboard for the first time and I find this article very informative. I have 2 very newbie questions.

    1. Is a 61 key keyboard is 36 ...

    37 keyboard layout  Not rated yet
    whats the layout for a 37 keyboard piano

    mine looks like

    ||| || ||| || ||| ||

    |= black keys
    22 white
    15 black

    I am not sure how to lable ...

    36 white key and 24 black key keyboard  Not rated yet
    How is a 36 white key and 24 black key piano labeled??

    two and a half octave synthesizer keyboard layout  Not rated yet
    what is the key layout for a two and a half octave analog synthesizer key board

    Complete Piano Keyboard Diagram  Not rated yet
    I wonder if you can send me the complete piano keyboard Diagram with the notes. Thank you.

    how to label a 29 white keys and 20 black key keyboard / piano  Not rated yet
    how to label a 29 white keys and 20 black key keyboard / piano
    please send picture

    Which C do you play?  Not rated yet
    How do you know which C to use if it's not middle C? I know if it 's lower to go down 1 section and if it's higher go up to the next c, but sometimes ...

    Return from Piano Keyboard Diagram (Layout) to Homepage.

    New! Comments

    Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

    Copyright © 2009-2012 Piano-keyboard-Guide.com. All Rights Reserved.

    SBI
    SBI!

    • Recommended For You

    Learn To Play Piano

    piano for all piano lessons

    Click here to learn how to play piano and keyboards (with Piano For All).

    rocket piano - learn to play keyboards and piano

    Click here to learn to play piano and keyboard (with Rocket Piano).

    Buy a Keyboard

    Click here to buy a keyboard or other musical instrument.

    Facebook

    Piano Keyboard Guide.com is on Facebook. Be among the first group of folks to join. Click the like button below and join us on Facebook.