Free Piano Keyboard
If you want to learn to play the piano, you’re in the right place. You will find free piano lessons here. First of all, you will learn how to sit at the piano (proper piano posture). Where you put the piano bench and how you position yourself on the bench is a very important part of piano playing. Enjoy the sound of a world-class Grand Piano where notes are played using your computer's keyboard or mouse.; Keep your sound and tempo under control with the dedicated Sustain, Metronome, and Tempo buttons.; Discover our growing list of free Interactive Songs and experience the joy of playing popular pieces like a professional pianist.; In addition to our original Piano sound, you can also.
Piano keyboard diagrams to print out - download these FREE piano key notes charts, blank, or with piano letters note names for your beginner music students!
Let students write on these
- THE EASY WAY TO LEARN PIANO PIANU IS FUN, EASY, AND ACCESSIBLE. Pianu is the easy, affordable, fun and fast way for ANYONE to learn piano. Start learning piano now for just $14/month – cancel anytime. GET STARTED NOW. Pianuhelps you learn piano faster because it feels like a game! Collect all 20 lesson badges on your way to the Piano Master.
- Free interactive piano exercises Try the online piano exercises and learn how to identify and play notes, intervals, chords, and scales on the piano. You'll also find various exercises in music notation and ear training. Sign up for free and receive full access to all of the exercises.
Let them fill in the blank piano learning guides themselves, week by week, perhaps using the new lettered piano keys layout as a reference if necessary.
This printable piano keyboard shows the piano keys with the note names on them, white keys and black keys too!
Scroll down the page to find the free downloadable PDF links...
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
Spreading it out over many weeks
I have found that putting the piano keyboard sheet on students' lesson assignments every week ensures a gradual firm grasp of key names.
Save ink by laminating
If you choose to print out this particular piano learning guide for your students (or yourself), I suggest laminating it, or using wide tape to cover the important parts of the page! INK IS SO EXPENSIVE, and we music teachers seem to need a lot of it.
You might also find it useful to laminate one of the online piano keyboards below, and allow your students to write on the keyboard with an erasable felt pen, to use the keyboard over and over. (As long as 'ghost images' don't remain behind!)
One new key at a time
Free Piano Keyboard Notes Chart
I used to assign kids the entire paper to fill in the first week, but gradually I've come to assign just one note name per week, and stipulate that at home, they are to strike every one of THOSE keys up and down the keyboard every day.
'This week, I want you to write in all the D's, in pencil, and play every D, etc.', so that we keep returning to the paper piano keyboard layout week after week.
It's a BIG DEAL when we've gotten through all the white keys, and turn our attention to those mysterious black keys, with the double names...
Here is a student who has placed a little animal on each G# key.
Below are two very different piano keyboards diagrams: the first one has small keys (uses less ink!), the second one is larger, with fewer keys.
Both print out nicely on 8 1/2' by 11' paper, with PLENTY of white space left below for you to write on! Scroll down for the free downloadable PDF links...
My favorite keyboard, & the easiest to use
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
I use 'blank' paper keyboards with all my beginner piano, violin, voice and guitar students.
Guitar players also need to understand the piano keyboard
Yes, guitar! I write the names on the appropriate piano keys for the guitar strings - E, A, D, G, B, E - and that is how they learn to tune their instrument. It is much more meaningful than using an electronic tuner.
I feel the electronic tuner should come LATER, after they understand how the piano keyboard relates to the strings and frets of the guitar.
The 'Rosetta Stone' for musicians
The piano keyboard is the Rosetta Stone for all musical instruments!
My students get to know the key names this way: the 3 black keys are 'Grandma's house,' and the 2 black keys are 'the dog's house.'
G = Grandma (who is the first person you meet inside GRANDMA'S house)
A = Ants that are hiding in Grandma's house - or it could be 'A' for 'Auntie'.
B = Grandma's BACK door
C = the Cat
D = the Dog (which is inside the DOG house)
E = the Eagle, or the Elephant
F = Grandma's FRONT Door
For the first few months of their lessons, they must fill in the piano keyboard paper one key-name per week. The first week they write in all the D's, and the piano players practice a hand exercise to go with it.
An opportunity to practice a flexible wrist
This exercise, known as 'Dipping Donuts,' requires shaping the 1 and 3 fingers into a round hole like a donut, then pretending to 'dip' it into an imaginary glass of milk, using a smooth wrist action. (This exercise comes from one of the cute FJH Piano Adventures books.)
So, all week long at home, they start their piano practice time by 'dipping donuts' on all the D's.
First one hand, then the other, strikes each D on the piano, from left to right, then back down again right to left (or the other way around -- some free spirit always wants to do it backwards, and it really doesn't matter!
Make a technical exercise out of it, for fun
This reinforces not just the piano key's location and name, but also a flexible wrist motion. (As I mentioned above, this idea comes from FJH's My First Piano Adventure, Lesson Book A Pre-Reading, which is full of cute and effective ideas for beginners.)
They will remember 'dipping donuts'
I frequently have to remind them not to stiff-handedly 'splash' the donut into the milk, but gracefully bend the wrist. Over a period of weeks (and months of follow-up), it starts to become natural!
This final keyboard, below, is very sharp-looking, but I don't use it much because I try to avoid print jobs that demand lots of heavy black ink! Your own purposes may have a special use for this graphic, though:
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
Keyboard recognition is important for all musicians
It's obvious why piano players need to start learning the names of the keys, but why guitarists and other instrumentalists, and vocalists?
The easiest way to explain and SEE a 'half step'
Those musicians also need to understand the topography of the piano keyboard, on which there seem to be black notes 'missing' between the frets B and C, and E and F.
How else will they truly understand the concept of half steps and whole steps?
When I give blank piano keys sheets to guitar beginners, the first thing we do is learn where the guitar strings are located on the piano.
We highlight those keys on the keyboard sheet, and use them as a reference for learning how to tune their guitar to a piano.
Tuning to the piano keys makes more sense
For guitar players, I have found this to be MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE than merely tuning with an electronic device. The UNDERSTANDING is there.
First the open strings, then the frets...
Next, we learn all the names of the other keys.
Then, we use this online piano keyboard sheet as a reference for saying note names as they play scales fret-by-fret from string to string. ('Open E, F, F#, G, G#...Open A, A#, etc.')
I suggest you print out just one at first to see how you like the size.
The black keys always require a lot of ink, and so these paper keyboards are precious commodities once they are printed out! I don't pass out new ones.
If a student rips the holes so the keyboard sheet doesn't stay in their 3-ring binder, then I mend the edge with wide tape folded over, and punch new holes!
A plain paper blank piano keyboard sheet is one of the best all-around tools a music teacher has!
Free Piano Keyboard
Here are the links to the PDFs!
First, the keyboard with names on all white and black keys:
The keyboard that uses the least ink and has four of each key:
The largest keys with three octaves:
Download printable piano keyboard with 3 octaves and large keys
Music for Music Teachers has other great free resources for teachers! Take a look:
12 Major Scales and Chords for Piano
Giant Flashcards for Games
Piano Chord Chart for Major and Minor Chords
Interested in songs from the Bible for your students or church? Check out my other website, SingTheBibleStory.com!
Recent Articles
Free Christmas Sheet Music 'We Three Kings' Beginner - Intermediate
Free Christmas sheet music 'We Three Kings' - Now 6 Arrangements! From VERY EASY to intermediate, there is an arrangement suitable for your student here!
Wassail, Wassail for Piano & Voice
Wassail, Wassail All Over the Town, now with an EASY & FUN duet arrangement for early beginners! This is a rousing, irresistible song for the Yuletide!
Free Christmas Songs for Piano, Guitar, & Leads: Deck the Halls
Free Christmas Songs: Deck the Halls, with a new easy-to-read lead sheet! For piano, guitar, & lead instruments. Kids enjoy this energetic Christmas carol!
Thanksgiving Song Lyrics & Music - Over the River & Through the Woods
Thanksgiving song lyrics & sheet music for Over the River & Through the Woods, an old-fashioned song kids will love to play & sing! EASY solos & duets.
Piano Party! Kids Need FUN!
Piano Party! I decided it was time for my students to get together for some low-stress performances, some cookies, punch & company! Kids need FUN!
Thanksgiving Song 'For the Beauty of the Earth', Free Downloads
Thanksgiving song for school, church, or your own pleasure! Now with a new EASY version for piano, 2 NEW piano arrangements, plus voice & other instruments.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing Lyrics & Sheet Music
Hark the Herald Angels Sing - an easy Middle C piano arrangement, pretty elementary & intermediate versions, & a guitar tab arrangement too!
Classical Piano Sheet Music - a Collection of Short Introductions
Classical piano sheet music - Fun, one-page intros! Check out the newest addition - Burgmuller's 'Arabesque', with its easy scale-wise melody!
Toreador Piano Sheet Music - Easy Late Elementary Arrangements!
Toreador: Piano sheet music of this famous opera music! These energetic arrangements are EASIER than they sound.
Songs Old and Songs New: A Collection for Beginning Piano
Songs Old and Songs New is a simple & easy way to start your beginner piano students - from piano keyboard sheets & scales & chords, to 265+ pages of music!
All the first-year material I give my beginner students.
Piano keyboard sheets, scales, chords, note-reading exercises, and over 256 pages of music!
This beautiful song book for piano & voice 'Esther, For Such a Time as This', available as a digital download, tells the riveting story of the time when Jews in ancient Persia faced a foe named Haman, and how a brave young queen risked her life to save her people.
A good choice for a singing story-teller, an operatic group, a short theater production, or a class of children!
This book is also available from Amazon as a paperback.
This book is available as a digital download from this site. Visit this page to see some free examples from the book.
It is also available from Amazon as a paperback!
This is the perfect easy start for little pianists.
And when they start reading white-key notes on the staff, this is a fun easy resource to say each week, 'Choose a new black-key song at home this week and figure it out to show me next lesson!' They will be spending more time at the piano.
A perfect read aloud storybook
for little boys or girls.
The Adventures of Tonsta highlight the travels of a very young boy with a good heart, who goes about helping folk in trouble.
With a red cap on his head and a sack of tools slung over his shoulder, Tonsta seems to meet people in distress wherever he goes.
Lots of trolls in this book - including one who gives him a Christmas gift!
MusicGardenStudios:
This is an absolutely wonderful site!
As a voice and piano teacher looking for enrichment material for beginners, I have found your collections to be comprehensive and purposeful. It is clear that you are a wonderful musician and educator. Thank you!
Joy:
I bought your Halloween Songs, wrote teacher accompaniment for some, and performed with 17 of my students in costume at an assisted living facility.
It was a 'win-win' situation. The kids and residents loved it and the parents were very pleased with the service aspect of their children's performance as well.
Thank you for sharing these lovely pieces that introduce the minor key in a very simple and interesting way to early elementary students.
Cathy:
I recently purchased your arrangement ofThe Moldau(a longtime favorite of mine).
I wasn't sure if any of my students would be interested in it, but to my amazement 3 of my students LOVE it. Thank you so much for making your great arrangement.
Sign up for 'Take Note!' to see what's new every month.
Comments: Do you have a story or a question about music teaching? Share it!
Please note that all comments are moderated, and will not appear until I have approved them. Also, IF YOU ARE ASKING FOR MUSIC THAT IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, YOUR REQUEST WILL BE IGNORED. That's pretty much any music written in the last 75 years...
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Suzie Neustadter Vocal Studio Not rated yet
Thank you for all of this helpful info!! I teach beginning piano to my voice students and this info was exactly what I needed!! Perfect! Best site I've …
How Can I Understand Piano? Not rated yet
I had a desire to play the piano. How do I know the chords and match it in playing. Please be a help to me I am a Liberian in Liberia. Dana: …
Real Size Keyboard Not rated yet
In the attached file I am providing the real dimensions of a piano keyboard. It's captured from Synthesia. If you need high resolution and lossless image …
Basic Foundation Not rated yet
I also agree but it is not only intended for students 6-13 years old. It is also the basic foundation of Music. If you can memorize thoroughly these keys …
Age level? Not rated yet
What age are these 'lessons' intended for? Because it only took me a week to memorize the keys. Reply from Dana I agree that most students …
About the Author
Hi, I'm Dana! (Say that like 'Anna'.) I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and a newer site, SingTheBibleStory.com.
Like some of you, I've been playing the piano since early childhood, and have added a few other instruments along the way, plus an interest in arranging and composing music.
You can find out more about me and the reason for this website at my About Me page.
If you want to learn to play the piano, you’re in the right place. You will find free piano lessons here.
First of all, you will learn how to sit at the piano (proper piano posture).
Where you put the piano bench and how you position yourself on the bench is a very important part of piano playing. By having the proper posture and position you will be able to reach the entire keyboard and be comfortable while practicing or playing.
Sit tall but not stiff. Your feet should be flat on the floor and your back straight. Your right foot may be slightly forward especially for using your piano pedals. Position yourself forward on the piano bench toward the piano but make sure you’re comfortable. You shouldn’t have too much thigh on the bench. Position yourself at the center of the piano.
Lean slightly forward. Let your arms hang loosely from your shoulders. Bench must face the keyboard squarely. The bench should be positioned so that your hands are resting over the keys. Elbows should be bent and slightly higher than the keys. Adjust the bench so that your forearms are parallel with the floor. Knees should be slightly under the piano keyboard.
Your fingers should be curved. Pretend you have a bubble in your hand. Be sure to keep your fingernails reasonably short as well.
When it comes to learning to play the piano, I have written an important review that you should read. Click here for my number one How to Play Piano recommendation.
Free Piano Lessons for Beginners – Piano Fingering
Piano Fingering – Guide to Piano Finger Placement
Learn Where Your Fingers Go on the Piano Keyboard
The graphic below illustrates the piano fingering number system. As can be seen, the thumb is the first finger of each hand.
It is very important to learn finger numbers because as part of your beginner piano lessons, you have to learn the proper fingering for scales, chords, arpeggios and musical passages. By using the correct fingers for the correct keys, playing the piano will be easier. You will be able to execute new techniques, master awkward positions, and exercise speed and flexibility. It is important to get this right from the start. There are too many piano players struggling with their playing because they use the wrong fingers for particular keys.
Fingered piano music marks each note with a number that corresponds to one of the five fingers. The numbers 1-5 are written above or below the notes. These numbers tell you which finger to press for which key. Here’s an example below.
Piano fingering for both hands are as follows:
- Thumb: 1
- Index finger: 2
- Middle finger: 3
- Ring finger: 4
- Pinky finger: 5
Click here to learn about my top recommendation for learning to play piano. In our next beginner piano lesson, we will learn about the piano keyboard.
Free Piano Keyboard App
Watch this series of lesson:
Lessons/Pages:
Comments
comments