How to use
- Choose your keyboard size: 88 keys for a full piano, 76, 61 or 49 for a digital keyboard.
- Switch note names, octave numbers, flats and sharps on or off. Turn names off to test yourself.
- Tap or click a key to hear it and see its frequency, MIDI number and piano key number.
- Press Print, or Download PNG to keep a copy for your music stand.
How the keys are named
The white keys use seven letters, A to G, and then start again. The black keys come in groups of two and three, and those groups are your map. The white key just left of any two-black-key group is C. The white key between the two black keys of that group is D. Count along the white keys and the pattern A B C D E F G repeats every twelve keys, black and white together. That span is an octave.
Middle C and octave numbers
Octave numbers follow scientific pitch notation. The number changes at C, not at A, so B3 is followed by C4. Middle C is C4, the C nearest the centre of an 88-key piano. Be aware that a few keyboard makers number octaves one lower or higher and call middle C by another name, so check the manual if your keyboard disagrees with this chart. The numbers below are calculated from the equal-tempered scale with A4 at 440 Hz.
| Note | Position | Frequency | MIDI number |
|---|---|---|---|
| A0 | Key 1 of 88 (Lowest key) | 27.50 Hz | 21 |
| C4 | Key 40 of 88 (Middle C) | 261.63 Hz | 60 |
| A4 | Key 49 of 88 (Tuning note) | 440.00 Hz | 69 |
| C8 | Key 88 of 88 (Highest key) | 4186.01 Hz | 108 |
Keyboard sizes compared
| Size | Range | White keys | Black keys | Typically found on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 keys | A0 to C8 | 52 | 36 | Acoustic pianos and full-size digital pianos |
| 76 keys | E1 to G7 | 45 | 31 | Portable stage and digital pianos |
| 61 keys | C2 to C7 | 36 | 25 | Entry-level and arranger keyboards |
| 49 keys | C2 to C6 | 29 | 20 | Compact keyboards and controllers |
One black key, two names
A black key is the sharp of the white key to its left and the flat of the white key to its right, so the key between C and D is both C sharp and D flat. Which name is right depends on the key you are playing in: a piece in D major uses C sharp, a piece in A flat major uses D flat. Choose Both in the tool to see the two names stacked on each black key.
Memorise the keyboard in three landmarks
- C: the white key to the left of every two-black-key group. Find all the Cs first.
- F: the white key to the left of every three-black-key group. Cs and Fs give you the whole pattern.
- Middle C and A above middle C (A4, 440 Hz): tune your ear and your eye to these two.
What the sound is
The tone you hear is a simple synthesised note made in your browser, so no audio file downloads and nothing needs an internet connection once the page has loaded. It is accurate for pitch but it is not a recording of a piano, so use it to check where a note lives, then confirm on your real instrument.
Frequently asked questions
How many keys does a full-size piano have?
A full-size piano has 88 keys: 52 white and 36 black, running from A0 at the left end to C8 at the right end.
Where is middle C on a piano?
Middle C is C4. On an 88-key piano it is key number 40, the white key just left of the two-black-key group nearest the middle. On a standard 61-key or 49-key keyboard starting at C2 it is the 25th key from the left.
Why do some black keys show two names?
Each black key has two correct names. The sharp name belongs to the white key on its left and the flat name to the white key on its right. The tool can show sharps, flats or both so you can match the chart to the key signature you are reading.
Can I print this labeled keyboard?
Yes. Print scales the whole keyboard to the page width, and landscape orientation gives the largest labels. Download PNG saves an image you can print at any size or put on a practice sheet.
Does a 61-key keyboard start on C?
Most full-feature 61-key keyboards run from C2 to C7, and 49-key models from C2 to C6, which is how this chart draws them. A 76-key keyboard usually runs from E1 to G7. Models differ, so compare with yours.
Why are some octave numbers different on my keyboard?
Octave numbering is a convention rather than a law. This chart uses scientific pitch notation, where middle C is C4 and A4 is 440 Hz. Some manufacturers label middle C as C3, so the letters match but the numbers sit one lower.