A standard modern piano has 88 keys: 52 white keys and 36 black keys. Its range runs from A0 at the low end to C8 at the high end, covering seven octaves plus a minor third.
The 88-key layout became the accepted modern standard as piano design evolved during the nineteenth century. Earlier pianos often had smaller ranges because composers and builders had not yet settled on the expanded keyboard used today. Some older instruments have 85 keys, while certain modern concert pianos extend beyond 88.
The keyboard’s black and white pattern represents the notes of the chromatic scale. The white keys correspond to the natural notes, while the raised black keys provide sharps and flats. Because the pattern repeats across octaves, players can navigate the keyboard by recognizing groups of two and three black keys.
The piano’s invention is generally credited to Bartolomeo Cristofori, who built early hammer-action instruments in Italy around 1700. His design allowed players to control loudness through touch, unlike the harpsichord. The familiar 88-key range is therefore a later standard, not a feature of the very first pianos.