Notice that all keyboards have a simple pattern; a group of two black keys, a group of three black keys, a group of two black keys and so on.
Using the cut-off keyboard below, locate a GROUP of TWO black keys (do NOT pick two black keys within a GROUP of THREE black keys). Now find the white key between those two black keys. The name of that white key is D. D for Duncan.
Now locate another GROUP of TWO black keys and find the white key between those two black keys. The name of that white key is also D. D for Duncan. The white key between each GROUP of TWO black keys is always D. D for Duncan.
The alphabet letter D is repeated again and again across the keyboard. All D's sound SIMILAR because the frequency (the number of vibrations per second) of each higher D is double the frequency of the previous D. These D's have SIMILAR sounds NOT identical sounds.
The only letters of the alphabet that are used for the white keys of the keyboard are A B C D E F G and just like the letter D these are repeated again and again across the keyboard: A B C D E F G A B C D E F G and so on.
Remember, that these keys have SIMILAR sounds NOT identical sounds.
Now that you know how to find the location of every key called D you can start to work out the locations of the other keys:
Originally, keyboards were designed without the number of keys they have today; the black keys were added much later. Therefore, the alphabet letters of C and E are NOT given logically to the BLACK keys on each side of every D but to the WHITE keys on each side of every D.
The keys B and F can next be found:
The keys A and G can next be found:
You now know the names of the white keys on the keyboard!
(Special note: The German musical theory system of naming the white keys uses a slightly different pattern: A H C D E F G A H C D E F G and so on and the Italian music theory system of naming the white keys uses do re mi fa sol la si do re mi fa sol la si and so on where re is equivalent to the white key of D. The reasons for these differences are explained in the Understanding of Music Seminar™).
Now you are ready to learn the names of the black keys.
Black keys were later additions to the design of the keyboard and were given names that related to the existing white keys. The reason for this is explained in the Understanding of Music Seminar™. If black keys had been given their own names it would have greatly simplified the whole subject of music!
There are two rules for naming the all the rest of the keys on the keyboard:
Moving UP (right) ONE (a key one semitone or half step above) is called a SHARP and represented with this symbol:
Moving DOWN (left) ONE (a key one semitone or half step below) is called a FLAT and represented with this symbol:
With these two rules all the black keys can be named. Notice on the next cut-off keyboard that each black key has TWO names, a SHARP name AND a FLAT name. This happens because each black key can be related to either the white key on the left or on the right!
There is further information to understand with regard to naming the keys on the keyboard and learning how to name the strings and frets on the guitar which is explained in Understanding of Music Seminar™.
However, if you understand everything I have explained so far then you are ready to continue with learning how to play SCALES. If you have any doubts on ANYTHING I have explained so far please review all the information before you try to go any further.
