The black keys
In this lesson we will learn about the black keys.
There are five black keys in each octave. The black keys do not have their own names! But we can name them using their neighbors, the white keys. The sharp symbol ♯ means play one note higher, so the black key next to C can be called C♯, or “C-sharp”. Here are all the black notes, named using sharps:
Write the names of all the black notes above them:
Write the names of all the white notes on the keys.
Now go play all of the notes on the keyboard. Sing when you play them:
A♯ C♯ D♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ C♯...
You can play a lot of songs just on the black notes. Here is one:
A♯ G♯ A♯ C#... D♯ F♯ F♯ A♯...
A♯ A♯ G♯ A♯ G♯ F♯...
G♯ G♯ F♯ G♯ F♯ D♯...
A♯ A♯ G♯ A♯ G♯ F♯...
G♯... G♯ A♯... G♯... F♯...
To write black notes on a staff, you can write the sharp symbol before the note. Here are the five black notes in the first octave of the treble clef:
Copy the five notes into the second measure and write the name of each note under it. Then play the notes with your right hand and sing their names.
Here are five black notes in the bass clef:
Copy the five notes into the second measure and write the name of each note under it. Then play the notes with your left hand and sing their names.
Here is a grand staff song using the black notes:
