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In this lesson on piano notes identification we will take the mystery out of knowing what tones (notes) are represented by those "black dots" on and between the lines on a Treble Clef and Bass Clef. Have you ever looked at a piece of sheet music and wondered how the person playing knows what keys (piano notes) to play on the piano?

Before we begin, you need to know that a "full size" piano keyboard is comprised of 88 piano notes or keys. It (the keyboard) contains 7 octaves beginning with an A tone (note) on the lower end and ending with a C tone (note) on the high end. The seven octaves therefore begin on this lower A tone (note) and proceed to the next A tone (note) up the piano keyboard. This pattern is repeated 7 times. Actually, if you want to be "technical", the piano keyboard is 7 octaves plus the notes Bb, B, and C on the high end.

Now before we begin our piano notes identification on the treble clef, bass clef, and grand staff we will need to identify where "middle C" is on the piano keyboard. As the name implies middle C "splits" the keyboard down the middle. To find it begin on the lower A tone (note) we discussed earlier and count up 40 tones (notes), black and white piano notes. The 40th tone (note) is middle C.

By viewing the graphic you can see why I took the time to explain about middle C on the piano. If the piano notes are located on a Treble Clef, they will be played above middle C. If the piano notes are located on the Bass Clef, they will be played below middle C. While it looks like there should be more tones (notes) between the B located just above the last line on the Bass Clef and Middle C located just below the D tone (note) below the Treble Clef, these two tones (notes) are side by side on the piano keyboard.

In addition to learning how to identify piano notes, you also need to know what key signatures are. A key signature is all those sharps (#) and flats (b) you see following the treble clef and bass clef symbols either on or between the line(s). The number of sharps or flats tell you what "key" a piece of music is in.

For example, if there are no sharps or flats on the treble or bass clefs, the music piece is in the key of "C". You will remember from your study of piano scales that a C major scale is all white keys, no sharps or flats. On the graphic identifying our piano notes above, let's say that there was a sharp symbol (#) where the F & C notes are located. This would mean the music piece was in the key of "D". Again, refresh your memory on piano scales, the D major scale is composed of D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D (octave).