The layout in one sentence
The bottom letter row is the lower octave and the top letter row is the upper octave; the row just above each one holds its black keys — exactly like the two rows of a piano keyboard.
| Computer key | Piano note | Key |
|---|---|---|
| Z | C3 | White |
| S | C#3 | Black |
| X | D3 | White |
| D | D#3 | Black |
| C | E3 | White |
| V | F3 | White |
| G | F#3 | Black |
| B | G3 | White |
| H | G#3 | Black |
| N | A3 | White |
| J | A#3 | Black |
| M | B3 | White |
| Q | C4 (middle C) | White |
| 2 | C#4 | Black |
| W | D4 | White |
| 3 | D#4 | Black |
| E | E4 | White |
| R | F4 | White |
| 5 | F#4 | Black |
| T | G4 | White |
| 6 | G#4 | Black |
| Y | A4 | White |
| 7 | A#4 | Black |
| U | B4 | White |
| I | C5 | White |
Moving up and down the piano
- Press → to shift every computer key up one octave, and ← to shift down. The gold line above the piano shows which keys your keyboard is playing.
- You can also use the arrow buttons next to “Keys on keyboard” under the piano.
- The range goes from C1 up to C8, so every key of the 88-key piano can be reached.
Sustain, loudness and chords
- Sustain: hold Space to keep notes ringing after you let go, just like the right pedal of a real piano. Release it to stop them.
- Chords: press several keys together. A C major chord is Q E T (C, E, G), and A minor is N Q E (A, C, E).
- Loudness: computer keys play at a medium strength. For full control over loud and soft notes, use the mouse (strike near the front of a key to play louder) or a MIDI keyboard.
Does it work with AZERTY or QWERTZ keyboards?
Yes. The online piano reads where a key is on the keyboard, not which letter is printed on it, so the layout is the same on any keyboard. In Chrome and Edge the labels on the piano keys even switch to the letters of your own layout.
When a chord doesn't sound
Most computer keyboards cannot report more than three or four keys at the same time, and some combinations fail even sooner. This is a hardware limit called key ghosting, not a fault of the piano. If a chord drops notes, play it with the mouse or touch screen, or connect a MIDI keyboard.
Keep practising
Put the chart to use with an easy song, or go back to the full virtual piano.