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2. How to recognise the keys

1 As you look down at the keyboard, check out the black keys. Notice how they’re arranged in a regular pattern – a group of two, followed by a group of three, followed by a group of two, another group of three and so on. In fact, they’re arranged in alternating groups of two and three like this all the way along the keyboard.

2 The white note immediately to the left of each group of two black notes is a C – the one situated in the centre of the keyboard is middle C. C is important because it’s the starting point for anyone learning the keyboard. The key of C major contains no sharps or flats in it, so it has no black notes for you to worry about.

3 There are seven main note names for the white notes, starting with A and continuing through B, C, D, E, F and G. Travelling along towards the right end of the keyboard, the next white note up from C is D, then E, F, and G. After G, it just wraps back around to A, followed by B, and finally a repeat of C one octave higher.