Basics
The musical alphabet
Just seven letters, A to G, repeating forever.
2 min read
Music uses only seven letter names: A, B, C, D, E, F, G. After G it starts again at A. The white keys are exactly these letters in order.
Starting from C
We usually start counting from C, because it sits right before the group of two black keys. From C the white keys go C, D, E, F, G, A, B — then back to C.
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ZC3
XD3
CE3
VF3
BG3
NA3
MB3
AC4
SD4
DE4
FF4
GG4
HA4
JB4
KC5
LD5
;E5
'F5
G5
A5
B5
C6
W
E
T
Y
U
O
P
Seven white keys: C D E F G A B, then the pattern repeats.
Tip: Say the letters out loud as you play each white key. It sticks faster than you’d think.