🎹 Piano for Beginners · Lesson 2 of 7
Note names
C D E F G A B — the musical alphabet.
The musical alphabet
Music uses only seven letters: A B C D E F G, and then it starts again. On the piano we start from C: C D E F G A B C.
Finding each note
| C | Left of 2 black keys |
|---|---|
| D | In the middle of 2 black keys |
| E | Right of 2 black keys |
| F | Left of 3 black keys |
| G and A | Inside the 3 black keys |
| B | Right of 3 black keys |
Do re mi
In many countries the same notes are called do re mi fa sol la si (or ti): C = do, D = re, E = mi, F = fa, G = sol, A = la, B = ti. You may know “Do-Re-Mi” from The Sound of Music.
Tip
💡 D is the easiest to find: it sits right in the middle of the two black keys, like a dog in a doghouse.
✏️ Practice: your turn
- Play C D E F G A B C slowly and say each name
- Find every D on the keyboard
- Close your eyes, touch a key, open them and name it
- Sing “do re mi…” while playing C to C
🧠 Quick quiz
Answer all 4 questions correctly to mark this lesson as done.
0 of 4 correct
All lessons in Piano for Beginners
- 🎹 1. Getting to know the keyboardGroups of 2 and 3 black keys, and where C is
- 🔤 2. Note namesC D E F G A B — the musical alphabet
- ✋ 3. Hand position and finger numbersFingers 1–5, sitting right and a rounded hand
- 🐑 4. A first song with the right handMary Had a Little Lamb with just three notes
- 🥁 5. Rhythm: the beat and note valuesWhole, half and quarter notes, counting out loud and a metronome
- 🎼 6. Reading notesThe staff, the treble clef, and C-position notes on the page
- 🙌 7. Left hand, both hands and daily practicePlay together, and 10 minutes a day to keep going