How many keys does a piano have? This is a common question for people who are interested in learning to play the piano and parents who are shopping around for the perfect piano for their children.
The number of keys a piano has varies based on the piano type. A standard piano has 88 keys, but other types of pianos like electronic pianos, specialized pianos, learner pianos, and children’s pianos have a different quantity. Most keyboards have a standard key count of 66, 72, or 88 keys.
To choose the right-sized keyboard for learning or playing piano, it is always best to learn more about the reasons these keyboards differ so much.
How Many Keys Does a Piano Have
The number of keys on a piano has varied over time as developers perfected this musical instrument. Today, you can find quite a few different types of pianos in different sizes.
Let’s take a quick look at the number of keys on different pianos.
The First Piano
The piano was invented by the Italian musical instrument maker, Bartolomeo Cristofori, who lived from 1655-1731. Cristofori developed the first piano when he discovered that musicians struggled to control the volume on the harpsichord.
These early pianos were called “gravicembalo col piano e forte” which means “a harpsichord that can play soft and loud noises.” Instead of plucking the strings of a harpsichord, the piano used small hammers to produce sound. The force used to strike the keys allowed musicians to produce softer or louder notes.
Cristofori’s version of the piano was perfected in 1720. It consisted of the grand piano form that is still highly sought after today.
The original piano did differ quite a bit from modern pianos since it only consisted of 54 keys. The strings were significantly narrower and produced softer tunes.
The Standard Piano
Piano manufacturer Steinway was the first to produce an 88-key piano in the 1880s. This 88-key piano includes 36 black keys and 52 white keys and is considered a real piano or full-sized piano.
The white keys on the standard piano produce natural musical notes while the black keys produce sharp and flat tones.
Musicians quickly fell in love with this piano’s size and design and other manufacturers started following this design method by also manufacturing 88-key pianos. Because of the popularity and success of the 88-key full-size piano, it was labeled and marketed as a standard piano size.
All traditional piano types have 88 keys and feature seven octaves and three lower notes. They do, however, vary in design.
Many grand pianos, upright pianos, electric pianos, hybrid pianos, and portable pianos are still developed with this standard number of keys.
Extended Pianos
Pianos are also developed in an extended form. Stuart & Sons produces the largest pianos with 108 keys and set a world record with their nine-octave pianos.
Boesendorfer also produces extended 97-key and 92-key pianos with nine additional keys ranging from 2C to C5. On these pianos, the additional keys are hardly used but, when used, they do offer a bass tone that enhances the richness of the music.
Some electronic keyboard manufacturers also produce extended pianos but they are rare and difficult to find.
Extended pianos are usually expensive and not as easily accessible. Very few musicians also know how to use these extra notes.
Keyboard Pianos
Keyboard pianos can have different keyboard configurations. These electronic pianos or electric keyboards were invented in 1964 by Robert Moong.
The first digital pianos became available on the market in the 1970s and there are 8 different configurations of these digital pianos including the standard 88-key piano.
All digital pianos have the same basic functions. The main difference between different digital piano configurations is the number of keys or octaves they have.
Here is a quick look at some of the different digital piano configurations:
37-Key Keyboard
37-key keyboards are small and portable. They consist of 22 white keys and 15 black keys. The layouts for these keyboards can vary. Some start on the C-key while other keyboards start on the F-major key.
49-Key Keyboard
The 49-key keyboard has a total of 49 keys which include 29 white keys and 20 black keys. Most of these digital keyboards start and end with a C-major key and it only features four octaves.
54-Key Keyboard
A 54-key electronic instrument is often an ideal beginner keyboard because it tends to be affordable and doesn’t take up too much space. Many teachers do, however, disagree and feel that beginner pianists need a minimum of 61 keys.
The 54-key piano has 32 white keys and 22 black keys and it starts and ends with the C-major note.
61-Key Keyboard
Most professional pianists believe that the 61-key piano is the bare minimum requirement for beginner pianists because it offers a similar feel to the 88-key standard piano.
The 61-key piano features 36 white keys and 25 black keys and this piano also starts and ends in C-minor.
Kids Pianos
Children’s pianos can vary in design, size, and quality. You can find higher-quality upright digital or acoustic kids’ pianos that have a total of just 25 keys.
These mini pianos usually feature 10 black keys and 15 white keys. Cheaper toy piano types are even smaller with just a couple of keys but usually do not produce a realistic piano sound.
Children’s pianos can be a good option for toddlers who might want to explore the musical world. But if your little one is passionate about music then it is best to start with a standard piano or keyboard.
What Size Piano or Keyboard Should You Get?
Most musicians and piano students prefer an 88-key classical piano because it allows them to play a wider range of sheet music and gives them room to expand their skills over time.
In some cases, it might be better to invest in a 61-key keyboard. These digital pianos are more affordable, and more portable and they are good for beginners who only play for personal entertainment.
The 61-key piano is easier to learn and you can always upgrade to a larger piano at a later stage. You should, however, know that you will only be limited to beginner sheet music songs when you invest in this type of keyboard compared to a full-sized piano.
For beginners, it is usually best to steer clear from smaller piano sizes since these do not offer much room to grow and are not easier to learn than a 61-key piano.
With these smaller pianos, you might get frustrated due to a lack of musical sheets available for practice or you might feel too restricted.
Extended pianos are not commonly found on the market. The chances of locating one of these at a decent price are slim. Even if you do manage to find an extended electronic keyboard, it could be a waste of money – very few musicians can play these pianos and those extra keys aren’t used too frequently.
It can be challenging to choose the right digital or acoustic instrument when there are so many different sizes, styles, and types to choose from.
Pianos can be a costly investment, especially if you are only buying a piano for personal entertainment.
Different Types of Piano Keys
Now that you understand the different numbers of keys on acoustic pianos and electronic keyboards, it is important to realize that these keys can differ a lot for piano types. One of the most important features to keep in mind is the key weight.
Most acoustic pianos have weighted keys while most digital pianos have unweighted keys. The weight of older acoustic piano keys can also be much heavier than modern models.
On digital keyboards, you can find lots of pianos with weighted or unweighted keys.
Unweighted piano keyboards can enable pianists to play faster or perform more complex or quick-paced musical sheets like electronic music that would be very difficult on a weighted keyboard.
On the other hand, if you learn to play on an unweighted digital keyboard, you could have a tough time playing when you try an acoustic piano.
Weighted digital piano keys also allow pianists to express more emotion or can have a more dramatic effect when playing because the force used for pressing down on the keys can be very stimulating.
Final Thoughts
So how many keys does a piano have? This can vary for different piano types. Standard pianos usually feature 88 keys but you can also find smaller keyboards.
For most people, it makes sense to invest in a standard 88-key piano, but some beginners prefer a smaller 61-key piano.
We hope that you enjoyed this guide and that you can now decide on the right-sized instrument to get for your piano journey.
If you want to learn even more about pianos or want to find a good piano to buy then take a look at some of the other guides and product reviews we have on Improve Piano.
Our guides are a great starting point for beginners and musicians who are looking to expand their knowledge and equipment.