The Musical Alphabet
Welcome to your music theory journey! This week you will learn the seven natural notes, understand how the piano keyboard is organized, and start reading notes on the treble clef staff.
Learning Goals
Lesson Content
The Seven Natural Notes
Music uses a simple alphabet of just seven letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G. After G, the sequence starts over at A. This repeating cycle is the foundation of all Western music.
Each time the pattern repeats, the notes sound the same but higher (or lower). The distance from one A to the next A is called an octave.
The Piano Keyboard
The piano is the best visual tool for understanding notes. White keys correspond to the natural notes. The pattern of black keys (groups of 2 and 3) helps you locate any note. For example, C is always just to the left of a group of two black keys.
The Treble Clef Staff
Written music uses a five-line staff. The treble clef (also called the G clef) is used for higher-pitched instruments and the right hand on piano.
- Lines from bottom to top: E, G, B, D, F ("Every Good Boy Does Fine")
- Spaces from bottom to top: F, A, C, E (spells "FACE")
Notes can also appear on short ledger lines above or below the staff to extend the range.
Practice Activities
Activity 1: Explore the Keyboard
Open the Synthesizer and play each white key from C to C (one octave). Say each note name aloud as you play it. Repeat ascending and descending until the sequence feels natural.
Activity 2: Note Reading Drill
Use the Note Reading game on Beginner difficulty with the Treble Clef selected. Aim for at least 20 correct answers. Focus on accuracy rather than speed.
- Set Clef to Treble
- Set Key to C Major
- Try to reach 80% accuracy before moving on
Activity 3: Steady Pulse
Set the Metronome to 72 BPM and practice saying the note names in rhythm: "C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C" — one note per beat. This builds your sense of musical time from day one.
Activity 4: Explore the Synthesizer
Open the Synthesizer and play with the controls. Find middle C and every other white key. Try pressing two notes at once — your first chord. Get comfortable before moving on.
Activity 5: Steady Pulse with Metronome
Set the Metronome to 60 BPM and play C on the Synthesizer cleanly on each beat for 16 beats. Then 80 BPM for another 16. A musician who keeps time is a musician you can play with.