Piano
Open in new tabA virtual piano that allows you to play musical notes and chords using your keyboard or mouse.
Features
Full 88-key piano keyboard with realistic sound samples
MIDI keyboard support for enhanced playing experience
Built-in chord recognition and visualization
Record and save your performances for future reference
How to Use
- 1Click on piano keys with your mouse or use your computer keyboard to play notes
- 2Connect a MIDI keyboard for more expressive playing (optional)
- 3Use the recording feature to capture your performance
- 4Experiment with different sounds and settings to customize your experience
Piano Basics
Learn the fundamentals of piano playing and keyboard layout
Piano Keyboard Layout
Learn about piano keys, their structure and musical theory
Interactive piano keyboard diagram showing the arrangement of white and black keys, note names, and their relationships.
Note Information
Click or press any key to see note details
Do
261.63 Hz • Natural Note
Musical Description
The fundamental note of the C major scale, often considered the 'home' note in Western music.
Musical Context
C is the starting point of the natural scale and has no sharps or flats in its major scale.
How to Explore
Learn about the piano keyboard structure
Mouse Interaction
Click to explore
- Click any piano key to hear its sound and see details
- Explore different keys to understand their relationships
- Click keys to learn about their musical properties
Keyboard Shortcuts
Use your computer keyboard
- Press keys A-J to quickly explore different notes
- Press multiple keys to understand chord structures
- Use keyboard shortcuts for efficient exploration
Keyboard Mapping
Each computer key corresponds to a piano note
Practice tips
Essential techniques and methods to help you improve your piano playing skills.
Practice plan
Beginner
minutes per day
Intermediate
minutes per day
Advanced
minutes per day
Basic finger exercises
Hanon exercises
Build finger strength and independence
- • Start with exercise No. 1 (C major)
- • Practice each hand separately first
- • Gradually increase the tempo
- • Focus on even rhythm and dynamics
Five-finger patterns
Improve coordination and control
- • Pattern 1–2–3–4–5–4–3–2–1
- • Practice in all major keys
- • Change articulation (legato, staccato)
- • Add rhythmic variations
Scale practice methods
Contrary motion
Hands move in opposite directions from the center
Chromatic scales
Use fingering 1–3–1–3–1–2–3–1–3–1–3–1–2
Arpeggios
Practice major, minor, diminished and dominant seventh chords
Practice session structure
Warm-up
5–10 min
Scales, arpeggios, finger exercises
Technical work
10–15 min
Scales, etudes, and finger control
Repertoire
20–40 min
Learning and refining pieces
Creative time
5–10 min
Improvisation, sight reading, musical games
Scales and Chords
Discover the building blocks of music — scales and chords that form melody and harmony.
Major scales
Major scales have a bright, uplifting sound. Each one follows the same interval pattern: whole — whole — half — whole — whole — whole — half.
C major
C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
G major
1♯G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G
D major
2♯D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# - D
F major
1♭F - G - A - Bb - C - D - E - F
Major scale pattern
All major scales follow this interval formula:
Piano Playing Techniques
Master basic and advanced piano techniques, developing precision, expression, and control over the instrument
Legato
Smoothly connecting notes without breaks
Practice
Practice scales slowly, focusing on even transitions between fingers
Staccato
Short, separated notes with clear pauses
Practice
Use quick wrist motions and release the key immediately after striking it
Pedaling
Using the sustain pedal to connect and enrich the sound
Practice
Practice precise pedal changes at the moment you strike a new note
Dynamics
Controlling volume and intensity of sound
Practice
Play the same passages at different dynamic levels, from pp to ff
Piano History
Discover the rich history and evolution of the piano
Piano Timeline
Piano Invention
Bartolomeo Cristofori invented the piano in Italy, calling it 'gravicembalo col piano e forte' (harpsichord with soft and loud).
Classical Development
The piano evolved rapidly during the Classical and Romantic periods, with improvements in action, frame, and range.
Electric Piano Era
Electric pianos like the Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer became popular in jazz, rock, and pop music.
Digital Revolution
Digital pianos and synthesizers revolutionized music, offering unlimited sounds and recording capabilities.
Types of Pianos
Acoustic Piano
Traditional piano with hammers striking strings. Offers the most authentic touch and sound experience.
Electric Piano
Uses electromagnetic pickups to amplify mechanical sound production. Popular in jazz and rock.
Digital Piano
Electronic instrument that samples acoustic piano sounds. Modern weighted keys feel very realistic.
Musical Eras and Piano
Baroque Era
1600-1750
Ornate melodies, complex counterpoint, and mathematical precision in musical structure.
Classical Era
1750-1820
Balance, clarity, and formal structure. Development of the piano sonata form.
Romantic Era
1820-1900
Emotional expression, virtuosic technique, and expansion of harmonic language.
Famous Piano Composers
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756-1791Classical master known for elegant piano sonatas and concertos with perfect balance of melody and structure.
Ludwig van Beethoven
1770-1827Bridged Classical and Romantic eras, expanding piano technique and emotional expression in his 32 sonatas.
Frédéric Chopin
1810-1849The 'poet of the piano' who created intimate, technically brilliant works that defined Romantic piano music.
Claude Debussy
1862-1918Impressionist composer who used the piano to create atmospheric, colorful soundscapes and new harmonic language.
Fun Facts
88 Keys
A full-size piano has 88 keys: 52 white keys and 36 black keys, spanning over 7 octaves.
Living Room Origins
The piano was originally designed as a domestic instrument for the home, unlike the church organ or concert hall instruments.
Piano quiz
Test your knowledge of the piano — from basic playing techniques to music theory and expression.