How to play the virtual piano
- Play any key to hear it. On your phone, you can use several fingers at once to play chords.
- Slide your finger or mouse across the keys to play a glissando.
- Use the − and + buttons to move down or up an octave and reach lower or higher notes.
- Turn on Sustain to keep notes ringing after you release the keys, like the right pedal on a piano.
- Switch the key names between Do Re Mi and C D E with a tap.
- Choose a melody in Play a song. The next key lights up yellow and the song moves forward when you play it.
Computer keyboard shortcuts
On a physical computer keyboard, the middle row plays the white keys and the row above plays the black keys. A is middle C (C4) unless you change octaves.
| Keys | What they play |
|---|---|
| A S D F G H J K | C, D, E, F, G, A, B and the C above (white keys) |
| W E T Y U | C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯ and A♯ (black keys) |
| O L P | C♯, D and D♯ in the octave above |
| Ñ and the key to its right (; and ' on an English keyboard) | E and F in the octave above |
| Z and X | Move down and up an octave |
| Space bar (hold) | Sustain, like a pedal |
Do Re Mi or C D E note names
In Spanish, notes are called Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La and Si. In English and chord symbols, they're written C, D, E, F, G, A and B. They're the same seven white keys, repeated in every octave. To find C, look for a group of two black keys. C is the white key just to their left.
The black keys are sharps and flats. The one between C and D is called C♯ (C sharp) or D♭ (D flat), depending on the key. The number beside a note tells you its octave. C4 is middle C on the piano.
Chords on the virtual piano
Hold three or four keys at once and the piano tells you which chord you're playing, with its name and chord symbol. Try C, E and G for C major (C), or A, C and E for A minor (Am). To explore more, each chord has a page in the chord dictionary and each key has one in musical scales.
Your first songs to play
“Play a song” has four public-domain melodies to get you started with one hand. The next key lights up yellow. To hear the song before playing it, tap “Listen.”
- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star: C C G G A A G, F F E E D D C. All on white keys, without moving your hand.
- Ode to Joy: B B C D D C B A, G G A B B A A. Beethoven's melody moves note by note, with almost no leaps.
- Happy Birthday: C C D C F E, C C D C G F. It has just one black key, the B♭ at the end.
- Are You Sleeping, Brother John?: G A B G, G A B G, B C D, B C D. It's a round. Once you know it, play while someone sings along.
Once you can play them without looking, move on to the easy piano sheet music, with the name of each note under it, or keep going with our list of easy piano songs, sorted by level.
What's next?
The virtual piano helps you find notes and figure out melodies. To play with both hands, read sheet music and build good posture habits, a teacher makes a big difference. Gissi offers live online piano lessons by video call from any country, and piano lessons in Bogotá, at home or online.
Frequently asked questions
Can you learn piano with a virtual piano?
It helps you get started, finding notes, figuring out simple melodies, understanding chords and training your ear. But it doesn't replace a real keyboard. On a screen, you can't feel the weight of the keys or control how loud each note is, and playing with both hands is difficult. When you're ready to move forward, get a keyboard (we can help you choose your first one) and, if you can, learn with a teacher.
How many keys does a piano have?
A full acoustic piano has 88 keys, 52 white and 36 black, from A0 to C8, just over seven octaves. Many beginner keyboards have 61 keys, five octaves. This virtual piano shows two octaves on your phone and three on your computer. The − and + buttons let you explore almost the entire range.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. Play with your fingers and press several keys at once to make chords. Turn your phone sideways to see more keys. If there's no sound, turn up the media volume and, on iPhone, also check the silent switch.
Do I need to install anything?
No. It works in your browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge), with no downloads or sign-up. Sound is generated on your own device, so once the page loads, it doesn't depend on your connection.
How do I play piano with my computer keyboard?
The A S D F G H J K row plays the white keys starting at C4, and the row above (W E T Y U) plays the black keys. Z moves down an octave and X moves up. Hold the space bar to keep notes ringing, like a sustain pedal.