Best
Digital Grand Piano
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Overall: Perfect For Beginners To Expert-Level Pianists
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Best Feature: Features Historically Accurate Pianoforte Samples
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TedScore: 8/10
Best
Digital Upright Piano
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Overall: With Graded Hammer Action Keybed With 256 Note Polyphony
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Best Feature: Polished Ebony Upright Cabinet
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TedScore: 9/10
Best
Digital Piano On A Budget
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Overall: With A Bluetooth Connection For Speakers And Headphones
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Best Feature: One Of Roland's Premium Keyboards - The PHA-4. Lightweight And Compact Size
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TedScore: 10/10
How many keys are on a piano? As a professional pianist, it’s a question I get asked loads. And the answer: 88.
But it’s not as simple as that…
You may have noticed that pianos come in different sizes and with varying amounts of black keys and white keys. Have you ever wondered why this is? What’s the difference between all of them?
If you’re reading sheet music, then the white keys on the piano are called natural notes, and the black keys are called sharps or flats, depending upon the key signature you’re playing in.
Today, most modern full size pianos have 88 keys. But if you’re looking for portability and ease of playing, you could opt for a keyboard with 61 or 76 keys. These are smaller and lighter than a full size piano, making them great for beginners.
But how do you know if you need 61, 76 or 88 keys. I mean, you only have 10 fingers…
A Brief History of Piano Keys
The piano is a fascinating instrument that has a rich history.
It all began with musical instrument technician Bartolomeo Cristofori’s invention in 1655. He was dissatisfied with the lack of control over the volume level of the ‘keyboards’ that were around back then, and set out to create an instrument that would give musicians more control. From there, the technology adopted by piano manufacturers has been shaped and developed over the centuries.
Before Cristofori, there were other keyboard instruments such as dulcimers, but none had the same sound as the piano we know today. Paul Janko later refined this design in 1881 and added more keys to create the modern 88-key piano.
Thanks to these past piano makers, we can now enjoy this wonderful instrument!
How Many Keys Does the First Piano Have?
The first pianos usually had 60 keys, which represented five octaves of music. This standard was held until the 1880’s when piano manufacturer Steinway started producing 88-key pianos.
Keyboard vs Piano
Keyboard
Keyboards, which are also called electric pianos, are instruments with unweighted keys that require a power source. They are commonly used as a substitute for pianos because of their portability and ease of use. The keys on a keyboard are typically narrower than on a piano. It also produces electronically amplified sounds.
A keyboard and a digital piano are really quite different instruments, and we have a dedicated article here explaining the difference.
Piano
The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material. It has the broadest range of notes of any instrument, covering more than seven octaves. Its technical name is a pianoforte – but no-one calls it that anymore!
These keys are generally black keys and white keys; when you press them with your fingers, little hammers hit the strings inside to create a sound.
Types Of Pianos
There are two main types of pianos for you to choose from: acoustic pianos (that have two subcategories of grand and upright pianos), and digital pianos (that have four subcategories). All of these options offer something unique to suit your needs and preferences.
Grand Piano
Grand pianos are the largest and most expensive type of piano, and they offer a wide dynamic range, rich resonance and deep bass tones.
Grand pianos are incredible for performance pieces that desire a full-bodied sound.
DESIGNED FOR: People Needing An Affordable Grand Piano
COMES WITH: Gloss Ebony Finish
FEATURES: Solid Spruce Soundboard
Yamaha GB1 K Grand Piano
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Affordable
- Amazing sounding
- Elegant Design
- If you have a bit more budget, a slightly larger model would be a better option
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore.
Upright Piano
Upright pianos are named for their vertical orientation, meaning the strings and soundboard run perpendicular to the ground. They are smaller than grand pianos, yet they still produce a full-bodied sound due to the vertical arrangement of their strings.
If you’re looking for an instrument that’s compact yet still has an impressive sound, then this piano may be just what you need!
DESIGNED FOR: Experienced And Professional Musicians
COMES WITH: Three Pedals (Soft, Middle, And Sustain)
FEATURES: Vailable In Several Finishes; Built With High-Quality Materials, Providing A Warm And Smooth Sound
Yamaha U1
