Middle C

Ask any piano player, and they'll say that the first note they learned is Middle C.

Middle C is very important because it's right in the middle of the piano, and it separates the lower pitches from the higher pitches. Usually, tones on the Bass Clef are below Middle C and tones on the Treble Clef are above Middle C (although, in difficult music, any tone can be on any clef).\

In more advanced terminology, we don't need to play any sharps or flats for the Middle C Scale, making Middle C a kind of "pure" scale (because it doesn't use the black keys).

Play!

Let's try play Middle C and the 7 keys after Middle C. You have just played your very first scale! If you shift your hand and play 8 white keys starting from any key other than C, you'll find that the scale sounds "weird" and "wrong." This is because the other scales make use of the black keys. That's why you should stick to the Middle C scale (for now)!

Remember...

If you remember Middle C as a starting point for finding other keys on the piano, you shouldn't feel as overwhelmed as before. When you are able to identify and play Middle C without this picture to help you, then you are ready for the starting position.

Review

  1. Middle C is the most crucial/central/important key on the piano.
  2. Memorize the position of Middle C. When you can play it without referring back to the picture, go on to the next section.

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