How to read piano note names on a staff

On a treble staff, the lines from bottom to top are E, G, B, D, F; the spaces are F, A, C, E. On a bass staff, the lines are G, B, D, F, A; the spaces are A, C, E, G. A note name gives pitch, not its duration.

Prepared by SheetSnap. Editorially updated 2026-10-08; not reviewed by a music teacher. English guide; practice suggestions are not a substitute for individual teaching.

See note names and symbols on a real score

SheetSnap places note letters beside the music. In this Fur Elise opening, E and D sharp alternate. The sharp raises D to the neighboring black key; the raised symbol callout explains what you are seeing. Open the full reader to explore the detected symbols in score order.

Fur Elise / The first two notes

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Sharp

Here, D becomes D♯: the black key immediately to the right of D.

A semitone is one neighboring key, black or white. E♯ is F; B♯ is C.

Open the full annotated score

Start with one staff and one phrase

The treble clef marks G on the second line from the bottom. The bass clef marks F between its two dots. Middle C sits on a short extra line below the treble staff or above the bass staff. The same letter repeats in different octaves, so look at height on the staff as well as the letter.

Connect a note to the keyboard

Find the group of two black keys. C is the white key immediately to their left. The white-key names continue C, D, E, F, G, A, B, then repeat. Mary Had a Little Lamb begins E D C D in our eight-measure arrangement: a small pattern you can follow on the page and keyboard together.

Letters do not replace rhythm

A filled notehead, stem, flag, beam or dot changes how long a note lasts. Rests tell you when not to play. Use labels to locate a key, then read the notation for timing. Slow a short passage until you can follow both.

Try it with a real score

Read and practice Mary Had a Little Lamb

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