diff --git a/doc/keybrd_library_developer_guide.md b/doc/keybrd_library_developer_guide.md
index ef9e6be..2b8b518 100644
--- a/doc/keybrd_library_developer_guide.md
+++ b/doc/keybrd_library_developer_guide.md
@@ -53,7 +53,10 @@ Keybrd library class inheritance diagram
 	Key
 	 |____
 	 |    \
-	 |   Key_LayeredKeys
+	 |   Key_LayeredKeysBase
+	 |      \____________________
+	 |      /                    \
+	 |   Key_LayeredKeys      Key_LayeredKeys1
 	 |
 	 |___________________________
 	 |     \                     \
diff --git a/src/Key_LayeredKeys.cpp b/src/Key_LayeredKeys.cpp
index 0a63a14..b72eaac 100644
--- a/src/Key_LayeredKeys.cpp
+++ b/src/Key_LayeredKeys.cpp
@@ -1,13 +1,6 @@
 #include "Key_LayeredKeys.h"
 
-void Key_LayeredKeys::press()
+uint8_t Key_LayeredKeys::getActiveLayer()
 {
-    layerId = refLayerState.getActiveLayer();
-
-    ptrsKeys[layerId]->press();
-}
-
-void Key_LayeredKeys::release()
-{
-    ptrsKeys[layerId]->release();
+    return refLayerState.getActiveLayer();
 }
diff --git a/src/Key_LayeredKeys.h b/src/Key_LayeredKeys.h
index ed55b0e..588445c 100644
--- a/src/Key_LayeredKeys.h
+++ b/src/Key_LayeredKeys.h
@@ -4,22 +4,16 @@
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <LayerStateInterface.h>
 #include <Key.h>
+#include <Key_LayeredKeysBase.h>
 
-/* Class Key_LayeredKeys contains an array of Key pointers, one pointer per layer.
-Codes are a kind of Key, so the Key pointers can point to Codes or Keys.
-
-When the key is pressed, active layerId is retreived from refLayerState and
-the Key object of the active layerId is called.
+/* Most of the Key_LayeredKeys functionality is in Key_LayeredKeysBase.
 */
-class Key_LayeredKeys : public Key
+class Key_LayeredKeys : public Key_LayeredKeysBase
 {
     private:
-        Key*const *const ptrsKeys;             //array of Key pointers, one Key per layer
-        uint8_t layerId;                          //active layer when key was pressed
         static LayerStateInterface& refLayerState;
     public:
-        Key_LayeredKeys(Key* const ptrsKeys[]): ptrsKeys(ptrsKeys) {}
-        virtual void press();
-        virtual void release();
+        Key_LayeredKeys(Key* const ptrsKeys[]) : Key_LayeredKeysBase(ptrsKeys) {}
+        virtual uint8_t getActiveLayer();       //get active layer from refLayerState
 };
 #endif
diff --git a/src/Key_LayeredKeys1.cpp b/src/Key_LayeredKeys1.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a7fcb4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Key_LayeredKeys1.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#include "Key_LayeredKeys1.h"
+
+uint8_t Key_LayeredKeys1::getActiveLayer()
+{
+    return refLayerState.getActiveLayer();
+}
diff --git a/src/Key_LayeredKeys1.h b/src/Key_LayeredKeys1.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dfa6fe3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Key_LayeredKeys1.h
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#ifndef KEY_LAYEREDKEYS1_H
+#define KEY_LAYEREDKEYS1_H
+#include <Arduino.h>
+#include <inttypes.h>
+#include <LayerStateInterface.h>
+#include <Key.h>
+#include <Key_LayeredKeysBase.h>
+
+/* Most of the Key_LayeredKeys1 functionality is in Key_LayeredKeysBase.
+Key_LayeredKeys1 is just like Key_LayeredKeys, but with a distinct refLayerState.
+Key_LayeredKeys1 and Key_LayeredKeys can have different size ptrsKeys[].
+*/
+class Key_LayeredKeys1 : public Key_LayeredKeysBase
+{
+    private:
+        static LayerStateInterface& refLayerState;
+    public:
+        Key_LayeredKeys1(Key* const ptrsKeys[]) : Key_LayeredKeysBase(ptrsKeys) {}
+        virtual uint8_t getActiveLayer();       //get active layer from refLayerState
+};
+#endif
diff --git a/src/Key_LayeredKeysBase.cpp b/src/Key_LayeredKeysBase.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c83c1e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Key_LayeredKeysBase.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#include "Key_LayeredKeysBase.h"
+
+void Key_LayeredKeysBase::press()
+{
+    layerId = getActiveLayer();
+
+    ptrsKeys[layerId]->press();
+}
+
+void Key_LayeredKeysBase::release()
+{
+    ptrsKeys[layerId]->release();
+}
diff --git a/src/Key_LayeredKeysBase.h b/src/Key_LayeredKeysBase.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..822d05b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Key_LayeredKeysBase.h
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#ifndef KEY_LAYEREDKEYSBASE_H
+#define KEY_LAYEREDKEYSBASE_H
+#include <Arduino.h>
+#include <inttypes.h>
+#include <LayerStateInterface.h>
+#include <Key.h>
+
+/* Class Key_LayeredKeysBase contains an array of Key pointers, one pointer per layer.
+Codes are a kind of Key, so the Key pointers can point to Codes or Keys.
+
+When the key is pressed, active layerId is retreived and the Key object of that layer is called.
+
+Design note:
+Child classes (Key_LayeredKeys and Key_LayeredKeys1) have distinct static refLayerState
+and different size ptrsKeys[].
+That way Key_LayeredKeys instantiations don't need a LayerState argument,
+which is significant for a sketch with 100 keys.
+*/
+class Key_LayeredKeysBase : public Key
+{
+    private:
+        Key*const *const ptrsKeys;              //array of Key pointers, one Key per layer
+        uint8_t layerId;                        //active layer when key was pressed
+        static LayerStateInterface& refLayerState;
+    public:
+        Key_LayeredKeysBase(Key* const ptrsKeys[]): ptrsKeys(ptrsKeys) {}
+        virtual uint8_t getActiveLayer()=0;
+        virtual void press();
+        virtual void release();
+};
+#endif