Halberstadt keyboard
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The Halberstadt keyboard (or Halberstadt layout) is the standard keyboard found on pianos, organs, harpsichords, clavichords, and most electronic synthesizers and samplers.
Layout
The Halberstadt keyboard contains a number of repetitions of a 12-key pattern, which conventionally corresponds to 12-tone equal temperament, such that the pattern repeats at the octave. Starting on C, the notes go as follows:
| Key | Color[note 1] |
|---|---|
| C | White |
| C#/Db | Black |
| D | White |
| D#/Eb | Black |
| E | White |
| F | White |
| F#/Gb | Black |
| G | White |
| G#/Ab | Black |
| A | White |
| A#/Bb | Black |
| B | White |
| (C) | (White) |
The black keys are raised and placed further back compared to the white keys. The white keys contain the C major scale, and the black keys contain the F# major pentatonic scale.
On a standard piano, there are 88 keys, corresponding to 7 octaves and 4 additional pitches.
External links
Notes
- ↑ On a modern piano. Some instruments (notably harpsichords and clavichords) have reverse colors.