Music is built on a repeating pattern of 12 notes. These notes repeat again and again as we move up or down the keyboard. Once you clearly understand this pattern, learning scales, chords, and songs becomes much easier and more logical.

When you look at a keyboard, the notes move in small steps. Each step moves you from one note to the very next note. There are no gaps between these steps — every movement is exact and fixed.

Sharp (♯)

A sharp means moving up by one step. On the keyboard, this means moving one key to the RIGHT.

You can think of a sharp as plus (+) or forward movement in music.

Example: C → C♯ (move one step to the right)

Flat (♭)

A flat means moving down by one step. On the keyboard, this means moving one key to the LEFT.

You can think of a flat as minus (−) or backward movement in music.

Example: D → D♭ (move one step to the left)

Important Concept

A single key on the keyboard can have two different names.

For example: C♯ is the same key as D♭.

This is why music has 12 notes but more than 12 note names.