Play the online piano using your keyboard

Your computer keyboard becomes two octaves of piano keys. The bottom letter row Z X C V B N M plays the white keys from C3, and the row above, Q W E R T Y U I, carries on from middle C. The black keys sit on the rows in between: S D G H J and 2 3 5 6 7. Press ← or → to move up or down an octave, and hold Space for the sustain pedal.

The letters printed on the keys always show which key plays which note. For the full key chart and tips for playing chords, see how to play the online piano using your keyboard.

A virtual piano keyboard that sounds like a real piano

A real concert grand

Every note is a recording of a Yamaha C5 grand piano (the Salamander Grand Piano sample set), not a synthesizer tone.

Touch-sensitive

Strike a key near its front edge to play louder, near the back to play softer. Soft notes also sound darker, as on a real piano.

Sustain pedal

Hold Space, press the on-screen pedal, or use the pedal on your MIDI keyboard to let notes ring.

All 88 keys

From A0 to C8 on wide screens. On phones the interactive piano keyboard shows a window of keys you can move by octave.

MIDI keyboards

Plug in a USB MIDI keyboard and play it straight away in browsers with Web MIDI, such as Chrome and Edge.

Light you can see

Each note sends a ribbon of light up from its key, coloured by pitch, so you can see the shape of what you play.

How to play this online piano board

Press Start playing on the piano above. The piano sound loads once (about 2 MB) and then stays ready.
Click or tap a key, or press a letter on your keyboard. Hold several keys at once to play a chord.
Hold Space or the gold pedal to sustain notes, and use the Hall slider to add room reverb.
Use the arrows next to “Keys on keyboard” to move your computer keys to a higher or lower octave.
Want something to play? Try one of the easy songs below, or press Play “Evening Study” to hear a short demo piece.

Easy songs to play on the virtual piano

Each song page shows the notes and the matching computer keys, plays the melody for you, and lights up the next key to press so you can learn it note by note.

Learn the piano keys

New to the keyboard? The piano keys chart labels every white and black key with its note name, explains octaves and middle C, and lets you hear each one.

Frequently asked questions

Is this online playable piano free?

Yes. Nocturne is sponsored and provided for free by Pianoers.com. It has no ads, and you don't need to sign up or install anything.

Can I play the online piano using my computer keyboard?

Yes. The letter rows of your keyboard play two octaves of piano keys, and the arrow keys shift them up or down. The keys are mapped by their position, so QWERTY, AZERTY and QWERTZ keyboards all work. See the keyboard key chart.

Does the virtual piano work on phones and tablets?

Yes. Tap the keys with one or more fingers. Smaller screens show fewer keys at a time; use the octave arrows to move along the keyboard.

Why can't I hear anything?

Browsers only allow sound after you interact with the page, so press Start playing first. On an iPhone or iPad, also check that the ring/silent switch is not set to silent, because it mutes web audio.

Why do some chords not play from my computer keyboard?

Many computer keyboards cannot detect more than three or four keys pressed at once (this is called key ghosting). Chords always work with the mouse, a touch screen or a MIDI keyboard.

Can I connect a MIDI keyboard?

Yes, in browsers that support Web MIDI, such as Chrome and Edge. Connect the keyboard, press Start playing and allow MIDI access if asked. Key velocity and the sustain pedal both work.

How many keys does this virtual piano keyboard have?

All 88 keys of a standard piano, from A0 to C8: 52 white keys and 36 black keys.

Does Nocturne record or store what I play?

No. Everything happens in your browser. Nothing you play is uploaded, and the site uses no cookies or analytics. See the privacy page.