What is the purpose of black keys on the piano? That’s an interesting question. The straight forward answer without any elaboration is: If all the keys on a piano were white, you would have no idea where to find a particular note on 
the keyboard short of counting each note from the top or bottom until found the note you were looking for. Black keys on a piano are actually reference points. A more interesting explanation is that any keyboard instrument is built on or has its basis in the key of C Major.
Each note has an equal distance from one another. In other words, each note is a half step apart regardless of whether or not it is black or white. A key of music is a simple pattern of half steps and whole steps. Because of this structure, the key of C consists of all white keys. If you’ve ever taken traditional piano lessons you probably recall learning songs that are were the key of C. The key of C is the most fundamental key in music as it relates to the piano.
Does that mean that the key of C is the easiest key to play in? That’s really a matter of opinion. But I think that most piano players would agree that it is the easiest key to visualize because all of the keys are the same color. Another benefit of black keys on the piano is that gives visual characteristics to other keys of music. For example if you have a key of music that starts on a black key and has only one other black key (total of 2 black keys) you know that you’re in the key of B flat. That’s just one example of a visual characteristic of a key of music. They’re all unique and that not only helps to learn them, it also helps you to remember them.
Find out more about the Color Score Professional Learning System.
Greg Lee
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