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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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.