How Many Keys Does a Piano Have? 88, and Why Some Have 61 or 76

How many keys does a piano have? 88, including 52 white and 36 black

Spanish Wikipedia states that virtually all modern pianos have 88 keys, 36 black and 52 white, and that a full-size electronic piano keyboard has the same 88.

To see them all together, open the site's virtual piano and explore the keyboard from left to right.

How many octaves does a piano have?

An octave contains 12 keys: 7 white and 5 black. The pattern repeats every 12 keys, which is why 88 is not an exact multiple.

Here is the breakdown. Seven complete octaves, from C1 to B7, add up to 84 keys. Add the three low keys below C1: A0, A#0 and B0. At the top is C8, the final key. That gives us 84 + 3 + 1 = 88.

The white keys add up too: 2 at the bottom (A0 and B0), 49 across the seven octaves, and 1 at C8 make 52. The black keys are A#0 plus 35 across the seven octaves, making 36.

That's why a piano is said to span seven octaves and a minor third: that describes the 4 remaining keys. To see how those notes are written, read what is a staff and the treble clef.

Why does a piano have 88 keys? A little history

The piano did not start out with 88 keys. According to Spanish Wikipedia, pianos in Mozart's day had around five octaves, while harpsichords in the 18th century had slightly more than 61 keys.

Over time, manufacturers added more notes. English Wikipedia reports that Broadwood reached five octaves and a fifth in the 1790s, six octaves around 1810, and seven around 1820.

The 88-key layout became standard in the late 19th century. Both Wikipedia articles agree that almost all pianos made since roughly 1870 have 88 keys.

What are the black keys on a piano called? Groups of two and three

In each octave, the 5 black keys form groups: two together, a gap, then three together. This pattern repeats across the entire piano and helps you find your way around.

Each black key has two names, depending on how you look at it: it's the sharp of the white key to its left or the flat of the white key to its right. For example, the black key between C and D is called C sharp (C#) or D flat (Db). It's the same key and makes the same sound.

• C: the white key immediately to the left of a group of two black keys.
• D: the white key in the middle, between the two black keys in that group.
• E: the white key to the right of a group of two.
• F: the white key to the left of a group of three.
• G, A and B: the next three white keys, with the first two sitting between the black keys in the group of three.

To find middle C, look for the group of two black keys closest to the center of the keyboard and play the white key to its left. Learn more about each note and its position in the parts of a piano.

How many keys does a keyboard have? 61, 76, 49 and controllers

Not every keyboard instrument has 88 keys. English Wikipedia notes that modern synthesizers usually come with 61, 76 or 88 keys, while small MIDI controllers may have 25. A MIDI controller does not produce sound on its own: it sends signals to a computer or synthesizer.

The octave counts in the table are approximate: 61 keys give you five octaves plus one key, and 49 give you four plus one key. In practice, the difference is in the range, not the sound.

Types of piano: upright, grand, digital and keyboard

There are two main families of acoustic pianos and a third category: digital pianos.

• Upright piano: the strings run vertically, with the piano placed against a wall. According to Spanish Wikipedia, uprights are classified by height: spinet (less than 98 cm), console, studio (110 to 139 cm), and full upright (more than 140 cm).
• Grand piano: the strings run horizontally. Grands are measured by length, from the mignon, up to 130 cm, to the concert grand, more than 256 cm.
• Digital piano: an electronic instrument with full-size keys and, in models designed for learning, an action that simulates the weight of acoustic piano keys. Almost all have 88 keys.
• Keyboard: also electronic, but with 61 keys or fewer and a wide selection of sounds and rhythms.

All full-size acoustic pianos have the same 88 keys. Size affects their sound and how much space they take up. If you are deciding between a digital piano and a keyboard, read digital piano or keyboard: the differences.

How many keys do you need to start playing piano?

For the first few months, 61 keys are enough. That range covers most beginner music, including easy piano songs, and the keyboard is less expensive and easier to store.

If you already know you are serious about learning, an 88-key piano with weighted keys is your best option. Your hands will get used to an acoustic piano's key travel and resistance from the start, and you will not need to switch instruments when pieces call for higher or lower notes.

For young children, a 61-key keyboard is usually enough at first. What matters is that the keys are standard size and the instrument is set at the right height. To compare options, read how to choose your first piano or keyboard and how much a piano costs.

And the pedals: how many does a piano have?

Modern pianos usually have three pedals. On a grand piano, from left to right, they are the una corda pedal (which softens the sound), the sostenuto pedal, and the damper or sustain pedal, which you will use most often. On an upright, the middle pedal is usually a practice pedal that muffles the sound. You can find detailed explanations in the parts of a piano.

Learning piano with a teacher

Knowing how many keys a piano has is the first step. The next is playing it. At Gissi Music Academy, we offer personalized piano lessons in your home in Bogotá or live online from any country.

Lessons are one-on-one with the same teacher every week, so your progress is tailored to you. If you are outside Colombia, explore our online piano lessons.

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