Blue Posted October 18, 2001 Share Posted October 18, 2001 Hi, I don't know if this is common to all the keyboards (I'm no good observer), but at least in my current keyboards (korg Triton) and a roland XP-30 of a friend of mine, the size of the white keys between adjacent black keys is not uniform for all the octave: the upper part of each "D" key between C# and Eb is wider than their "G" and "A" counterparts (between F#, Ab and Bb). Well I suppose you know what I mean. I have been thinking about why is it that way. Maybe everybody knows it except me and my friend, or maybe it's very obvious but I can't figure out the reason. Why the sizes between black keys should be different? Would somebody be so kind to explain that reason to me? Thanks a lot! http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif ------------------ = blue = = blue = Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krakit Posted October 18, 2001 Share Posted October 18, 2001 No offence, but, what are you talking about? I don't understand your post. Can you redescribe what you mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted October 18, 2001 Author Share Posted October 18, 2001 I mean, THEY ARE INTO MY HEAD, I HEAR VOICES!! They say "kill them all"!! LOL, really, I'm sorry it was not clear... (10 minutes later) I've tried to build a better explanation but I can't (well I can but it will look like I'm trying to be funny saying things like "there are white keys and black keys, black keys are shorter than white keys" http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif ). So, an image is worth a thousand words (or something like that): http://www.terra.es/personal2/championx/why.jpg Please bear in mind that this difference I'm talking about is slight. It's clearly noticeable if you look to the keyboard from above, but you are not likely to be able to see it in this image. This image is only provided as a graphical depiction of my question. So, now, is it clear? I hope so! Thanks. ------------------ = blue = This message has been edited by Blue on 10-18-2001 at 11:06 AM = blue = Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted October 18, 2001 Author Share Posted October 18, 2001 Well maybe I *AM* crazy because all of a sudden I think I know why (the voices told me)... I suppose it's just because there is more space available with 2 black keys than with 3. I mean, they can be a bit more separated without taking the space that must be left for a 3rd black key. Hard to explain but you'll have to deal with it. There will be no picture this time http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif I was thinking there was some mysterious reason (something related to keyboard technique or music theory), but I guess that's the simple answer. = blue = Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steadyb Posted October 18, 2001 Share Posted October 18, 2001 That is so all the keys will fit in the space available on the keyboard. Either that or it's just another example of the white keys refusing to give the black keys equal time and space. But at least there are more black keys in control of the presets on a B3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joegerardi Posted October 18, 2001 Share Posted October 18, 2001 I can't answer your question, but I made this observation on my own rig: My QS7 is sitting directly on top of my KX 76. When I got them, I tried to line up the keys so that every key on the QS7 was directly over the same key on the KX 76. Well, it can't happen. The physical keys on the QS7 are wider than the KX, to the point that the uppermost and lowermost keys on the QS overhang the KX by about 1/2 an inch on either side. Best I could do was line up middle C one over the other and accept that. I wonder why that is... Setup: Korg Kronos 61, Roland XV-88, Korg Triton-Rack, Motif-Rack, Korg N1r, Alesis QSR, Roland M-GS64 Yamaha KX-88, KX76, Roland Super-JX, E-Mu Longboard 61, Kawai K1II, Kawai K4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobro Posted October 18, 2001 Share Posted October 18, 2001 I've noticed such differences over the years and assumed they were different ways of addressing both key spacing and manufacturing costs. Because I must give my sad noggin a break from physical modelling with Reaktor, besides celebrate some successes and drink, I'm googling this for a more precise answer. What have I learned? Well Don Buchla is a gucking fenius, his midi retrofit for acoustic pianos senses before the hammer strikes, compensating for latency. Hmmm, what else, wacking organ builder folks all over... Aha... http://www.bikexprt.com/music/refine.htm "Traditionally, the heads of the white keys are all of the same width, resulting in uneven spacing between the black keys at the rear of the keyboard. The tails of the keys from F to B are more crowded than those from C to E." The article explains it all. Check out the bad-ass alternative keyboard at the site. -CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobro Posted October 18, 2001 Share Posted October 18, 2001 oh- here's the article on the traditional layouts, probably best to check that one out before going to the groovy variations. http://www.bikexprt.com/music/traditio.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted October 18, 2001 Author Share Posted October 18, 2001 Thanks for your answers, and Bobro: thanks for the links, they look pretty interesting! I tried to do some searches on the web on this subject, but it was hard to find the appropriate search words, so I found nothing. The links you posted seems very interesting, specially the 2nd one. I'm gonna read them in detail. Thanks! ------------------ = blue = = blue = Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowly Posted October 18, 2001 Share Posted October 18, 2001 Originally posted by Blue: Thanks for your answers, and Bobro: thanks for the links, they look pretty interesting! I tried to do some searches on the web on this subject, but it was hard to find the appropriate search words, so I found nothing. The links you posted seems very interesting, specially the 2nd one. I'm gonna read them in detail. Thanks! Seems to my fingers I can more easily tell where Im at on the keyboard. I also need more space to traverse that space from D to get to those higher keys. My finger has more space to lean that way. Casey "Let It Be!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Azzarello Posted October 18, 2001 Share Posted October 18, 2001 Originally posted by joegerardi: My QS7 is sitting directly on top of my KX 76. When I got them, I tried to line up the keys so that every key on the QS7 was directly over the same key on the KX 76. Well, it can't happen. The physical keys on the QS7 are wider than the KX, to the point that the uppermost and lowermost keys on the QS overhang the KX by about 1/2 an inch on either side. Best I could do was line up middle C one over the other and accept that. I wonder why that is... I found the same thing. But it didn't used to be that way http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/wink.gif My CS1x and QS-8 can't be aligned, but back in the old days I was able to get my the keys to line up on my Farfisa and Rhodes, CP-70 and string machine, etc. It really has made no difference to me playing on the same keyboard (you generally adjust pretty quickly - much faster to minor changes in key size than weighting). But when I need to quickly jump from one to the next it's a real pain realigning. Pat http://www.patazzarello.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicWorkz Posted October 18, 2001 Share Posted October 18, 2001 Originally posted by steadyb: That is so all the keys will fit in the space available on the keyboard. Either that or it's just another example of the white keys refusing to give the black keys equal time and space. But at least there are more black keys in control of the presets on a B3. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif You beat me to that...he was leaving himself wide open... http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Yamaha (Motif XS7, Motif 6, TX81Z), Korg (R3, Triton-R), Roland (XP-30, D-50, Juno 6, P-330). Novation A Station, Arturia Analog Experience Factory 32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowly Posted October 19, 2001 Share Posted October 19, 2001 Originally posted by steadyb: That is so all the keys will fit in the space available on the keyboard. Either that or it's just another example of the white keys refusing to give the black keys equal time and space. But at least there are more black keys in control of the presets on a B3. Snook that in there. I had to grin. Casey "Let It Be!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve LeBlanc Posted October 19, 2001 Share Posted October 19, 2001 Either that or it's just another example of the white keys refusing to give the black keys equal time and space. HAHAHAHAHA!!! Best joke yet (timing and all) from you Steady...I needed a good laugh today. http://www.youtube.com/notesleb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve LeBlanc Posted October 19, 2001 Share Posted October 19, 2001 Man Cameron...that's a fantastic website...thanks so much for posting it...I have it bookmarked and plan to link to it from my website. GREAT STUFF! http://www.youtube.com/notesleb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.