Musicarta is streaming on Twitch TV! Bookmark keyboardcomposing and check the schedule for your local times!

Welcome to Musicarta's

Key-specific Keyboards

Key signature study focus page



When a trained musician sees a key signature, he or she automatically 'filters' their view of the keyboard to match the key signature. If the key is D major, the white keys F and C are provisionally 'erased' and replaced by the black keys F sharp and C sharp indicated in the key signature.

In the musicians eye, the piano keyboard has become 'key-specific' - it is the keyboard for that key.

This collection of illustrations shows the key-specific keyboard arranged progressing from C major through the sharp keys as far as
F sharp major, then from C major through the flat keys to G flat major.

Key to the diagrams

Refer back to this sample keyboard illustration as you read the notes below.

The diagrams show first 'the key' in text (C major, F major etc.) Below that is the piano stave (treble and bass clef) showing the key signature sharps or flats. Below that is a list of the sharps or flats in the key signature, in text.

The 'tonic' (home note) is indicated on the stave by the lozenge shapes. This same lozenge shape indicates the tonic on the keyboard with, too. On the demonstration ‘key-specific’ keyboard illustration, the white keys that are played in the key are shown with a strong outline – as they are replaced with the black keys indicated in the key signatures, they are greyed out. The black keys belonging to the key signature illustrated are shown in black; you do not play the greyed-out black keys.

There is a demonstration octave on the keyboard. Above the keyboard you see the names of the notes in one full octave of the key in question – the scale tones of that key. Below the keyboard is the one-octave scale fingering, the right hand above the left hand.

The illustrations are © copyright R A Chappell. You may reproduce these diagrams for non-commercial, private study purposes only. Removing the Musicarta branding is breach of copyright.

Here's a sample 'Key-specific Keyboard' diagramme.

Musicarta guarantees that staring at this beauty (and her eleven little friends) will demystify the scale-and-key of E major in a fraction of the time the usual 'trial and error' approach wastes.

Leaving you free to get on and make music!

The rest of the Musicarta material on key signatures

  • How the sharps and flats build up;
  • How to immediately name a major key from the key signature;
  • Contour scale practice patterns;
  • Rhythmic scale practice patterns;
  • Scale-tone practice patterns
  • Pentatonic scales
  • Modes

Plus the invaluable Key-specific Keyboard diagrams "and much more besides"
has now moved to the

 Musicarta Patreon Tier One

 An excellent and stimulating collection of creative keyboards repertoire and reference resources - at a very reasonable price!

 -and let's move this thing forward!

Musicarta Patreon Tier One

A Musicarta Patreon Tier One subscription is another way to get the benefit of the PentHan 01-12-20 Exercise Series. Look at what the Tier One subscription offers! (Links to series home pages.)

The Video Hanon - the best video version on the web!

The Beat and Rhythm Workbook - go for the jugular!

'Chords 101' - an overview of essential popular-music theory.

The Pyramids Variations - your fast track to 'composing at the keyboard'.

'Majestic River' piano solo - an easy chord study in eight progressive lessons.

Musicarta Easy Piano Style - the new 'Play Like Enya' video pages (plus four how-to Enya solos).

Musicarta 'LH-over style' - as applied to "Falling in Love with You".

'Greensleeves' Piano Solo - a beautiful progressive arrangement.

Scales and Exercises - a stimulating collection including the 'Pentatonic Hanons' and the NEW PentHan 01-12-20 Series.

Key signatures - get to grips with key signatures once and for all!

Songbook - collection of easy-inter traditional repertoire melodies.

Learn more!

...plus - more material going up all the time!

At only US$5.00 per month, it's a great way to give your keyboard creativity a boost! Sign up now!

Musicarta is streaming on Twitch TV! Bookmark keyboardcomposing and check the schedule for your local times!




OUT NOW!

THE MUSICARTA BEAT & RHYTHM WORKBOOK

At last! An effective approach to keyboard rhythm & syncopation skills. Learn more!
Also on Musicarta Patreon - only $5.00 a month!



ONLY $24.95!

MUSICARTA SCALES SERIES

Scale keyboards
Scale fingering
Practice patterns
Scale-tone patterns (STPPs)
Other scales
Scales videos


The Musicarta
BEAT & RHYTHM WORKBOOK is now available!

A methodical approach to keyboard syncopation for

ONLY $24.95!

Learn more!


MUSICARTA
PUBLICATIONS

exciting keyboard
creativity courses


THE MUSICARTA
CHORDS 101
WORKBOOK
CHORDS 101 cover
Exclusively on
MUSICARTA
PATREON

Learn more!

THE MUSICARTA
~HANON~

video course
The Musicarta Hanon cover

ONLY $24.95
BUY NOW!
Also on
Musicarta
Patreon


THE MUSICARTA
PENTATONICS
WORKBOOK

video course
The Musicarta Hanon cover
ONLY $24.95
BUY NOW!
Learn more

GREENSLEEVES
Creative Keyboard

video course
GREENSLEEVES

THE MUSICARTA
BEAT AND RHYTHM
WORKBOOK
Beat and Rhythm Workbook
ONLY $24.95

Buy Now
Also available on
Udemy
andMusicarta Patreon Learn more!

PIANO SOLOS
- Volume 1 -
Piano Solos Vol. 1
ONLY $19.95
Buy Now
Learn more

THE MUSICARTA
12-BAR PIANO
STYLES WORKBOOK
Musicarta 12-bar Piano Styles
ONLY $19.95
Buy Now

THE
MUSICARTA MODES
WORKBOOK
Musicarta Modes Workbook
ONLY $19.95
Buy Now

MUSICARTA EASY
PIANO STYLE
Musicarta Easy Piano Style
ONLY $24.95
Buy Now

THE
CANON PROJECT

video course
The Canon Project
ONLY $24.95
Buy Now

THE PYRAMIDS
VARIATIONS

video course
The Pyramids Variations
ONLY $19.95
Buy Now
Also on Udemy and Musicarta Patreon
Learn more

KEY CHORDS VOL.1
Key Chords Vol.1
ONLY $24.95
Buy Now

'Chords for Carl'
- Piano Solo -

video course

Chords for Carl
ONLY $14.95
Buy Now

‘Mariaan’
- Piano Solo -

Mariaan
ONLY $14.95
Buy Now
Learn more

All the Musicarta
YouTube playlists
Pyramids
Pentatonics
Canon Project
Key Chords
Modes
Musicarta
Easy Piano
Musicarta
Blues & 12-bar
Beat & Rhythm
Solos
'Mariaan'
Chords for Carl
Songbook
Basic Music-
making Position
Left-hand-over
Style
Suspensions
Enya Solos
Scales
Technical Exercises
Triads and Inversions