Start with the 88-key reference, A0–C8, or select the 61-key example, C2–C7. Both use letter names and an optional octave suffix, with middle C labeled C4. The 61-key chart describes this specific range; a key count alone does not establish the labels of every keyboard model. Compare the leftmost and rightmost notes with your instrument.
Labeled Piano Keys: 88-Key and 61-Key References
Match letter and octave labels to a defined 88-key or 61-key layout, with clear steps for labeling your keyboard.
88 keys: A0–C8 · 52 white / 36 black keys
Reference diagram—not a full-size sticker template. Octave numbers identify register, not fingers.
A0–B0
A0A#0Bb0B0
C1–B1
C1C#1Db1D1D#1Eb1E1F1F#1Gb1G1G#1Ab1A1A#1Bb1B1
C2–B2
C2C#2Db2D2D#2Eb2E2F2F#2Gb2G2G#2Ab2A2A#2Bb2B2
C3–B3
C3C#3Db3D3D#3Eb3E3F3F#3Gb3G3G#3Ab3A3A#3Bb3B3
C4–B4
C4C#4Db4D4D#4Eb4E4F4F#4Gb4G4G#4Ab4A4A#4Bb4B4
C5–B5
C5C#5Db5D5D#5Eb5E5F5F#5Gb5G5G#5Ab5A5A#5Bb5B5
C6–B6
C6C#6Db6D6D#6Eb6E6F6F#6Gb6G6G#6Ab6A6A#6Bb6B6
C7–B7
C7C#7Db7D7D#7Eb7E7F7F#7Gb7G7G#7Ab7A7A#7Bb7B7
C8–C8
C8
Standard A0–C8 88-key layout; does not describe every extended-range or historical piano.
Labeled Piano Keys
88 keys: A0–C8 · A0–B0
Octave numbers: shown. Middle C is marked C4.
A0A#0Bb0B0
Sharp/flat pairs name the same key. Reference diagram—not a full-size sticker template.
Sources: BK-KORG, BK-ROLAND, BK-YAMAHA-COUNT, BK-YAMAHA-SPAN, BK-OMT, BK-MIT, BK-UTK, BK-W3C, BK-ENHARMONIC, BK-HOFFMAN
Labeled Piano Keys
88 keys: A0–C8 · C1–B1
Octave numbers: shown. Middle C is marked C4.
C1C#1Db1D1D#1Eb1E1F1F#1Gb1G1G#1Ab1A1A#1Bb1B1
Sharp/flat pairs name the same key. Reference diagram—not a full-size sticker template.
Sources: BK-KORG, BK-ROLAND, BK-YAMAHA-COUNT, BK-YAMAHA-SPAN, BK-OMT, BK-MIT, BK-UTK, BK-W3C, BK-ENHARMONIC, BK-HOFFMAN
Labeled Piano Keys
88 keys: A0–C8 · C2–B2
Octave numbers: shown. Middle C is marked C4.
C2C#2Db2D2D#2Eb2E2F2F#2Gb2G2G#2Ab2A2A#2Bb2B2
Sharp/flat pairs name the same key. Reference diagram—not a full-size sticker template.
Sources: BK-KORG, BK-ROLAND, BK-YAMAHA-COUNT, BK-YAMAHA-SPAN, BK-OMT, BK-MIT, BK-UTK, BK-W3C, BK-ENHARMONIC, BK-HOFFMAN
Labeled Piano Keys
88 keys: A0–C8 · C3–B3
Octave numbers: shown. Middle C is marked C4.
C3C#3Db3D3D#3Eb3E3F3F#3Gb3G3G#3Ab3A3A#3Bb3B3
Sharp/flat pairs name the same key. Reference diagram—not a full-size sticker template.
Sources: BK-KORG, BK-ROLAND, BK-YAMAHA-COUNT, BK-YAMAHA-SPAN, BK-OMT, BK-MIT, BK-UTK, BK-W3C, BK-ENHARMONIC, BK-HOFFMAN
Labeled Piano Keys
88 keys: A0–C8 · C4–B4
Octave numbers: shown. Middle C is marked C4.
C4C#4Db4D4D#4Eb4E4F4F#4Gb4G4G#4Ab4A4A#4Bb4B4
Sharp/flat pairs name the same key. Reference diagram—not a full-size sticker template.
Sources: BK-KORG, BK-ROLAND, BK-YAMAHA-COUNT, BK-YAMAHA-SPAN, BK-OMT, BK-MIT, BK-UTK, BK-W3C, BK-ENHARMONIC, BK-HOFFMAN
Labeled Piano Keys
88 keys: A0–C8 · C5–B5
Octave numbers: shown. Middle C is marked C4.
C5C#5Db5D5D#5Eb5E5F5F#5Gb5G5G#5Ab5A5A#5Bb5B5
Sharp/flat pairs name the same key. Reference diagram—not a full-size sticker template.
Sources: BK-KORG, BK-ROLAND, BK-YAMAHA-COUNT, BK-YAMAHA-SPAN, BK-OMT, BK-MIT, BK-UTK, BK-W3C, BK-ENHARMONIC, BK-HOFFMAN
Labeled Piano Keys
88 keys: A0–C8 · C6–B6
Octave numbers: shown. Middle C is marked C4.
C6C#6Db6D6D#6Eb6E6F6F#6Gb6G6G#6Ab6A6A#6Bb6B6
Sharp/flat pairs name the same key. Reference diagram—not a full-size sticker template.
Sources: BK-KORG, BK-ROLAND, BK-YAMAHA-COUNT, BK-YAMAHA-SPAN, BK-OMT, BK-MIT, BK-UTK, BK-W3C, BK-ENHARMONIC, BK-HOFFMAN
Labeled Piano Keys
88 keys: A0–C8 · C7–B7
Octave numbers: shown. Middle C is marked C4.
C7C#7Db7D7D#7Eb7E7F7F#7Gb7G7G#7Ab7A7A#7Bb7B7
Sharp/flat pairs name the same key. Reference diagram—not a full-size sticker template.
Sources: BK-KORG, BK-ROLAND, BK-YAMAHA-COUNT, BK-YAMAHA-SPAN, BK-OMT, BK-MIT, BK-UTK, BK-W3C, BK-ENHARMONIC, BK-HOFFMAN
Labeled Piano Keys
88 keys: A0–C8 · C8–C8
Octave numbers: shown. Middle C is marked C4.
C8
Sharp/flat pairs name the same key. Reference diagram—not a full-size sticker template.
Sources: BK-KORG, BK-ROLAND, BK-YAMAHA-COUNT, BK-YAMAHA-SPAN, BK-OMT, BK-MIT, BK-UTK, BK-W3C, BK-ENHARMONIC, BK-HOFFMAN
- Confirm the instrument’s lowest/highest notes and choose the matching supplied reference.
- Locate C before a pair of black keys; choose the correct C octave.
- Match and label one C–D–E–F–G–A–B white-key group.
- Check the F/G/A/B region against the group of three black keys.
- Match the black-key pairs C#/Db, D#/Eb, F#/Gb, G#/Ab and A#/Bb.
- Continue through the chosen range, keeping octave suffixes consistent; use the instrument/label instructions for any physical application.
Choose the layout that matches your keyboard
Read letters and octave labels
The white keys repeat C–D–E–F–G–A–B within each numbered octave. Turn octave labels on to distinguish C3 from C4, or A4 from A5. The black-key labels show familiar sharp/flat pairs, such as F♯/G♭. An octave number identifies the note’s register; it is not a finger number or a scale degree.
Label a small section first
First locate a group of two black keys and find the C immediately before it. Match that C to the correct octave in the reference. Next, label the following white keys D, E, F, G, A and B. Check the three-black-key group above F, G, A and B before continuing. Add the sharp/flat names only after the white-key labels match.
Where to start on the 61-key example
For the C2–C7 layout, label the leftmost white key C2. Continue through B2, then begin C3, and repeat until the final C7. This layout has six C keys but spans five C-to-C octaves. On the A0–C8 layout, the first three keys are A0, A♯0/B♭0 and B0 before C1. Do not begin that layout with C.
Print a reference you can read
Choose the same layout and octave-label setting for screen and print. Use the marked octave sections to read a long keyboard in smaller pieces. The printout is a reference diagram, not a full-size sticker template. If you use physical labels, match each one to the verified key before applying it and follow the label and instrument instructions for placement.