What Is a Piano Chart?

Beginning students use piano charts to help them gain familiarization with the instrument.

The piano is often considered one of the most effective instruments for teaching and learning music theory. This is because the piano encompasses both the treble and bass clefs and is laid out in such a way that it's easy to visualize the concept of scales and chord structure. Many piano teachers use charts to help their students become more familiar with the piano and the notes associated with it, making it even easier to teach the instrument.

1. Piano Key Chart

   • Piano teacher use a piano key chart to teach the notes on the piano. Some of these charts are pocket sized and can be carried around for easy reference, but some teachers recommend full size charts that run the length of the piano and sit above the keys in the exact place where the note falls on the piano. This way, beginning students have an easy way to see the notes they play until they know where the notes are automatically.
     

   Piano Scale Chart

   • A piano scale chart shows musical scales and the position of the notes of those scales on the piano. This chart usually has the scales presented visually, as they would be written on sheet music and as they appear on the piano keys. This is a helpful tool for teaching students to sight read because it visually enhances the relationship between the notes on the music staff and the notes on the keyboard itself.
     

   Piano Note Chart

   • A piano note chart is a simple chart that shows the full range of the piano. It does not break the notes down into key signatures. Instead, the notes are arranged on the music staff and encompass both the bass and the treble notes of the piano. Some of these charts will include an image of the keyboard itself, with a line going from the notes on the staff to the appropriate key on the keyboard.
     

   Piano Chord Chart

   • A piano chord chart shows students how to construct chords on the piano. The notes for each chord will be displayed on the music staff. Over each chord is a graphic showing how to place your fingers on the piano keys to make the indicated chord.
     

   Piano Sheet Music

   • Piano sheet music is called a piano chart. This is a piece of music arranged for the piano. A piano chart will incorporate the melody and the bass line of a song into a condensed piano version. The bass line is worked into the left hand part of the song and the melody and other instrument parts are condensed to the right hand part. Piano sheet music can also be referred to as piano/vocal and may even include chord symbols for the guitar.