How Many Black And White Keys On A Piano?

The white keys on a piano keyboard are called natural music notes. There are seven natural notes in the musical alphabet A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.

Natural music tones are grouped together in alternating patterns of two and three keys. The design of these notes repeats in groups of seven through the piano.

They sound more natural as opposed to the sharps and flats which are also known as the black notes.

What Are The White Keys For?

The white keys on the piano are used to play the natural notes of the musical alphabet that excludes notes with sharp (#) and flat (b) symbols.

The musical alphabet comprises notes in the sequence A-B-C-D-E-F-G and the white keys are named in accordance with this specific sequence.

When you start from any A and move to the right, you'll find all the natural notes in ascending order and again it repeats the sequence with A.

The White Keys make the building blocks of the instrument. They provide the essential notes that form the basic structure of the music.

The black keys on a piano are called sharps and flats. They are also labeled on extended pianos to clarify to the musician that it is extended.

They are inserted in between the white ones to provide other notes in the chromatic scale. The inclusion of black keys allows musicians to access all the different keys and pitches.

What Are The Black Keys For?

The black keys on the piano are used to play the sharp or flat notes representing the same pitch. Yet, they can be differently named on the basis of context.

These keys are raised or lowered in pitch by a semitone from their neighboring natural keys or white keys. They play crucial roles in forming pentatonic and blues scales which are used widely in genres like blues, jazz, and rock.

Correspondingly, the black keys enable the pianists to discover several voicings and inversions, enhancing the chords' sound played on the piano.

Lastly, it also adds visual and tangible reference which helps the learners quickly grasp the idea of notes, chords, and scales.

There are 88 keys in a standard piano. Out of the 88 keys found on the typical full-sized piano, it includes 52 white keys and 36 black keys.

Whereas, some are even longer than the standard piano size and have 97 keys like the Imperial Bösendorfer Piano which is 290 cm long.

Correspondingly, the largest piano consists of 108 keys. While other pianos are shorter and have somewhere between 44 to 72 keys.

The prominent piano manufacturer Steinway was the first to come up with the idea of creating a piano with 88-key piano. They initiated the work in the 1880s and since then many manufacturers have followed it.

88 key pianos including most grand, hybrid, upright, and digital pianos have 7 octaves and additional three lower notes ranging from A0 to C8.

Some of you might be wondering why did the manufacturers stop at 88 keys and not at 87. The answer to this is that it provides a broad range of notes covering 7 octaves and 3 extra notes (A0 to C8)

The aforementioned wide range of notes allows pianists to play a vast majority of compositions that spans various genres and styles.

Likewise, several cumulated factors deduced the decision of opting the piano creation with 88 keys. Some of the many factors include Playability, production cost, and more.

The size and spacing of the piano with 88 keys have been designed carefully which makes it comfortable for human hands to play.

Hence, extending the keys beyond 88 would result in either narrower keys or significantly larger instruments that would be very impractical.

Whereas, coming to the cost, building a piano with more than 88 keys would incur more production cost, ultimately decreasing if not limiting the demand for the instrument.

Most keyboard pianos have either 66, 72, or 88 keys. A 66-keys keyboard piano is sufficient for beginners who are just learning to play.

One can easily play most music on a 72-key keyboard piano. Having said that, a full 88-key keyboard piano is recommended at all times if you plan to play a traditional piano.

88 keys is the standard number of keys found on the most modern acoustic as well as digital pianos. Like the standard piano, the 88-key keyboard also covers 7 octaves plus extra three notes.

Although piano and keyboard piano are used interchangeably at most times, they refer to different types of musical instruments.

An acoustic piano is a traditional instrument that produces sound through physical hammers and strings whereas a keyboard piano is a digital piano.

A Keyboard piano replicates the sound of an acoustic traditional piano using digital sound.

Choosing the right keyboard piano for the beginner might be confusing. As tiresome as it is, the decision must be done carefully with a detailed study of several factors.

Characteristics of a Keyboard

Some of the characteristics to look out for whilst purchasing a keyboard are as follows:

• Keyboard Type

A Digital Keyboard piano with weighted keys might be the perfect option for you if you are a beginner.

Whereas, a synthesizer might be the option for you if you are planning for a versatile instrument for creating and manipulating a broad range of sounds.

• Number of Keys

Choosing the number of keys differs on the playing style and needs. A beginner can opt for a 61-key keyboard piano while a keyboard with 88 keys is the standard.

• MIDI Compatibility

If you already have virtual instrument software and want a keyboard to control those sounds, a Musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) compatibility with good connectivity is essential.

• Action

Keyboards with weighted keys, semi-weighted, and hammer-action keys mimic the piano-like feel offering more expressive control.

While MIDI controllers and synthesizers with synth-action keys are best suited for fast repetitions as they are lighter.

• Sound Quality

It is one of the most important considerations. The best quality keyboard produces sounds equivalent to those produced by a true piano.

• Recording Capabilities

MIDI compatibility with computer connectivity, sampler, and recording options would be a great option for individuals looking forward to creating their own compositions.

• Portability

The weight and size of the keyboard piano should be considered if you plan to carry it often.

• Budget

Proper budget setting is a must prior to purchasing a keyboard that best fits your price range whilst meeting your requirements.

A grand piano also typically has 88 keys. These pianos weigh somewhere between 650 to 850 lbs. and usually have a length from 6'5″ up to 7'4″.

Like the standard piano, the keys on the grand piano are also organized in a repeating pattern of white keys and black keys also known as natural notes and sharp or flat notes respectively.

Grand pianos are a common type of piano one can easily find in concerts, music studios, and high-end homes due to their aesthetic.

The grand piano which gets its name from its own differentiating big and elongated shape has a long body with the strings and soundboards running parallel to the keyboard.

Most keys on a piano are 108 keys. However, these are rare. A Stuart & Sons model made a world record with a piano having 108 keys.

It was first launched not long ago in 2018 by Stuart & Sons company in their Tumut, NSW workshops. It is undoubtedly one of the groundbreaking inventions.

The revolutionary piano reaches the frequency of many pipe organs from 16Hz to 7902Hz, setting a new key range for piano in the 21st century.

Many critics argue that adding over 88 keys isn't worth it for the human ear can't really hear music beyond 88 keys. However, obviously, Stuart & Sons disagree with it.

Likewise, another modern piano the Bösendorfer 290 'Imperial' has 97 keys. Some of the white keys on the left side of the piano are black to distinguish them from the typical 88 keys.

Considering the keys from the view of playability, adding more keys can actually make the instrument difficult to play. The keys at the ends sit physically further away from the center where the player sits.

Having said that, over the years, pianos have transformed significantly since their invention from the color choices, range, and width of the keys to the number of keys on the keyboard.

Although the keys on a piano range somewhere between 25 and 108, the standard layout of 88 keys should be sufficient to play a wide range of music compositions.