Printable Piano Keyboard Diagram - Learn the Names of the Piano Keys 7 are the Basic Notes, labeled after the first 7 letters in the alphabet; A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. These are also the white keys. 5 are Altered Notes, a semitone/half step higher or lower from the basic notes. These are the black keys on a piano. On the piano keyboard layout, this can be observed in the pattern of the white and black keys.