There are many pianos in the market nowadays catered to different piano occasions and different needs of people. It is very difficult to answer the question, how many keys on a piano without first addressing your individual needs and requirements. This article will attempt to explain the different types of pianos you will encounter on occasion in your daily life.

So to first address the question, how many keys on a piano, the first type of piano I will explain here is the standard upright or grand piano. The standard piano consists of 88 keys or seven 1/4 octaves, whereby 52 of the keys are white and the other 36 keys are black, which are known as sharps or flats. Pleyel, a company established in 1807, however, once built a double grand piano and thus, how many keys on this piano would be answered with 176 keys. Another unusual piano is made by Bosendorfer, where their Imperial Concert Grand (the 9'6" B?sendorfer 290) features 9 extra piano keys in the bass making the total of how many keys on a piano to be 97, colored in black to differentiate from the 88 normal keys to complete eight octaves. The other Bosendorfer version of the 7'4" B?sendorfer 225 has 92 keys.

Some other cheap piano models were made with only 54, 61, or 76 keys. These beginner models were typically similar to a digital piano, with built in rhythms and functions while not having weighted keys. Other smaller pianos include the toy piano. Toy pianos are typically scaled down models of upright pianos or grand pianos. A cheap version of the toy piano for babies might only have 8 keys. The Schoenhut Baby Grand Piano is the most famous toy piano of all, and thus, how many keys on a toy piano? The normal Schoenhut Baby Grand Piano consists of about 30 keys while the elite baby grand has up to 37 keys.

Pianists of the past however, would answer how many keys on a piano much more differently. When the piano was first invented by Bartolommeo Cristofori in 1709, it only consisted of 49 keys. During the Baroque period of music from 1700-1765, the piano used in this era consisted of 60 keys or 5 octaves. In 1794, the number of keys on the piano increased to 6 octaves or 72 keys. Finally, after 1885, the 88 key piano came into existence and became the standard to this day. Thus with this many keys on a piano, the piano is capable of reproducing the entire spectrum of sounds of instruments used in the orchestra or band.

In conclusion there are many different answers to the question how many keys on a piano. As the piano evolved over time, the number of keys on the piano increased as composers began to demand more complex repertoire. However, with every normal piano occasion with a standard upright or grand piano, you will find that the answer to how many keys on a piano to be 88 keys.