A typical piano has 88 keys spanning just over seven octaves. There are other, smaller keyboards or synthesizers that have fewer keys – most come in increments of 25, 32, 49, 61 or 72 keys.

In the Classical era, the colours on a piano keyboard were the other way round – the black keys white, and the white keys, black. So, when did it all change? And why are pianos made up of monochrome ...

Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning. A typical piano has 88 keys spanning just over seven octaves. There are other, smaller keyboards or synthesizers that have fewer keys – most ...