The Mechanics of the Piano

How the keyboard is mapped, how notation works, and how your hands interact with the instrument.

1. Keyboard Topography

A piano has 88 keys, but you don't need to memorize 88 separate things. The keyboard is a repeating pattern. The black keys are your map.

They are arranged in alternating groups: two black keys and three black keys. This pattern repeats across the entire instrument.

Visualizing the Pattern

Use the toggles to highlight the groups. Notice how the white keys are identical without the black keys to guide you.

2. Finger Numbering System

Piano music uses a standardized numbering system to tell you which finger to use. This makes playing efficient and prevents your hands from getting tangled.

1 is always the Thumb.
5 is always the Pinky.
The numbers mirror each other on left and right hands.

Hand Map Interactive

Click the numbers to trigger the corresponding finger. Notice that "1" is on the inside for both hands.

3. The Grand Staff Connection

Sheet music is just a graph.

Vertical axis: Pitch (High vs. Low).
Horizontal axis: Time (When to play).

As notes move higher up the lines of the staff, your hand moves to the right on the keyboard.

Pitch Visualization

Drag the slider to see how written notes correspond to physical keys. Notice how the note head moves line-by-line while the key illuminates.

4. Let's Play: The 5-Finger Pattern

Now we combine Finger Numbers, Keyboard Geography, and Sound.

We will play the first 5 notes of the C Major scale.

Place your Right Hand Thumb (1) on Middle C.
Align your other fingers on the next white keys (D, E, F, G).
Press the keys below to play.

Interactive 5-Finger Piano

Click "Enable Audio" first. Press the keys to hear the tones and see the wave visualization.