Piano music is chiefly written in the treble clef. To learn the notes that sit on the lines, starting at the bottom, use this mnemonic to remember the notes of E, G, B, D and F: Every Good Boy Does Fine. The notes of F, A, C and E are written in the spaces between, starting at the bottom. To learn the notes that sit in the spaces, use this rhyme: Look in the space, see a FACE.
Memorize the layout of the notes on the keyboard. There are seven different notes on the white keys. As you move up the keyboard, these notes repeat themselves at higher pitches. The distance between one C and the next C is eight notes, referred to as an octave. The white notes ascend in the following order: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. This is a C Major scale. Use the C key as your reference point to figure out what the other notes are.
There are five different notes on the black keys, repeated throughout the octaves. They are C sharp, D sharp, F sharp, G sharp and A sharp. The number of octaves on a keyboard is determined by the size of the piano. Typically there are seven octaves on a standard 88-key piano keyboard.
The scale of C major is the most simple scale to play because there are no sharp (black) keys in the scale; it starts at C and takes in the seven subsequent white keys to the right, ascending in pitch. Locate the lowest C on the keyboard, to the left of the first black key in the pair of black keys.
Position your left hand little finger on the C key. Play the C note with your little finger, then D with your third finger, E with your second finger and F with your first finger. Then reposition your hand so that your little finger is on G and play G with your little finger, A with your third finger, B with your second finger and C with your first finger. Repeat this pattern across the piano keyboard.
Locate the middle C on the keyboard. Start the right hand scale with your thumb and use each finger in order to play the notes. When you run out of fingers at A, reposition your hand and play B with your thumb.
Play a C major chord with your left hand. Play the low C with your little finger, play E with your second finger, G with your first finger and the high C with your thumb. As that chord rings out, play the right handed C major scale ascending.
Play a left-handed C major chord and let it ring. As it rings, pick out four notes from the C major scale and form a melody.