MODULE 1

PIANO BASICS
workbook 3

ONLINE PIANO
COMPOSITION COURSE
by João Balouta
www.JOAOBALOUTAMUSIC.com
 MODULE 1
PIANO BASICS
workbook 3

LESSON #3
KEYBOARD
A) MIDDLE C/C3
If you notice, a piano keyboard, has black keys, and white keys. White keys are
the natural notes, as we can see on the image bellow. Black keys will be the acci-
dental notes, known as Sharp (#) and Flat (b), that doesn´t belong to the pitch.
These ones are used in specific scales and different harnonies, which we will be
studying in our next lessons.

Well, now, I want you to pay attention to the black keys behavior. They are grou-
ped by 2 keys, then 3 keys, then 2, then 3, and so on. The C that is in the center of
a keyboard is called middle C or C3. This is the white key on the left side from the
2 black keys group (shown in blue on the image bellow).

Now that you know where is middle C, you can find out his neighbor notes, like
D,E,F,G - after C, to the right, and B and A - before C, to the left

Each of these notes, are repeated during the 88 keys of a piano keyboard, since
low to high frequencies, since bass to high notes, from left to right.

Middle c in a 88 keys piano keyboard

B) Black Keys
As we talked before, black keys are grouped by 2 and 3 keys. These notes will be
called semitones. They are very important when it is needed to change the pitch
in a composition piece, for example.

Here, is where symbols as Sharp (#), Flat (b) or Natural (♮) makes that changes.

ONLINEPIANOCOMPOSITIONCOURSE
www.JOAOBALOUTAMUSIC.com
 MODULE 1
PIANO BASICS
workbook 3

For example, in a staff, a C could be represented like this:

Sharp, Flat and Natural Symbols

Between C and D, we can see a black key, which will be called as C# (C sharp), or
Db (D flat). A sharp is used when you have a note above the pitch. A flat happens
when it’s under the pitch. And so on, it happens all over the piano keyboard with
the other notes. It’s important to know that between E and F and B and C, there is
no black key, because their sound frequencies are already too close and there was
no space for a semitone.

Black keys: sharp (#) and Flat(b)

Now that we know where are located our music notes, it’s time
to talk about harmony, as it will be a very important basis to our
future compositions.

ONLINEPIANOCOMPOSITIONCOURSE
www.JOAOBALOUTAMUSIC.com