Far 3 Piano Keys

dberry02jr · Post by **dberry02jr** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:03 am

This really isnt much of a finale question, but on a Grand Piano, why are there an extra 3 keys on the far left side?

Peter Thomsen · Post by **Peter Thomsen** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 10:52 am

I'm afraid I can't follow your thoughts here.
Could you explain your thoughts a little more in detail, e. g. by defining "extra keys"?

miker · Post by **miker** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 3:50 pm

Some manufacturers (i.e. Bosendorfer) add additional keys to some special models. The Model 290 Imperial has 97 keys!

TWW · Post by **TWW** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 7:35 pm

I've played on one of those Bosendorfers that go all the way down to C. By the time you get down to that near-subsonic range, the upper harmonics take over, and it sounds more like a 1970 sci-fi laser pistol (byool-byool-byool) than a musical instrument.

I think 92 keys, going down to F, woulda been plenty.

peterqd · Post by **peterqd** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 7:56 pm

The three spare keys on my old upright pianola are near the centre!

dberry02jr · Post by **dberry02jr** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:22 pm

If you go from C to C on a keyboard, it consists of a set of 2 black keys and 3 more black keys. A grand piano seems to have 7 sets of those, but on the far left side, it has 3 extra keys: A, A Sharp and B. I'm just curious on why those three keys are there.

miker · Post by **miker** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:26 pm

Just to give you a few more bass notes. Some composers have written for them.

Peter Thomsen · Post by **Peter Thomsen** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:30 am

dberry02jr wrote:If you go from C to C on a keyboard, it consists of a set of 2 black keys and 3 more black keys. A grand piano seems to have 7 sets of those, but on the far left side, it has 3 extra keys: A, A Sharp and B. I'm just curious on why those three keys are there.

There's no law that says that you must go from C to C on a keyboard.
You can just as well go from A to A.
If you go from A to A, then you will come to the conclusion that there are 3 extra keys on the far right side.

Also, there's no law that says that the lowest note on an instrument must be a C.
As a matter of fact there are many instruments whose lowest note isn't a C.

The range of 88 keys, going from A on the far left side to C on the far right side, is pretty much standard on a grand piano.

#84 · Post by **#84** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 10:26 pm

Next question: Why is the case made out of wood, and not plastic ?????

miker · Post by **miker** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 12:45 am

Because a lot of the resonance and tone come from the case. Plastic doesn't have the same characteristics.

For some very interesting reading, find 88 Keys: The Making of a Steinway Piano.

TWW · Post by **TWW** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:08 am

Pianos have been made of plastic -- transparent lucite, for example. And the piano on the Hindenburg was made of aluminum!

'Course, I have no idea how they sounded. It seems to me that a metal body would have its own resonances, not necessarily unpleasant.

#84 · Post by **#84** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:20 am

dberry02jr wrote:on a Grand Piano, why are there an extra 3 keys on the far left side?

So you have a place to put your ashtray.

michelp · Post by **michelp** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 12:20 pm

Extra keys are available on Böserndorfer pianos, in the bass range :
- 97 keys on the "Imperial" model : http://www.boesendorfer.com/en/model-290-imperial.html
- There used to be a model with "only" 92 keys (225), but it doesn't seem to be in their catalogue anymore. Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%B6sendorfer
Why extra keys ? Some piano litterature uses them, a.o. contemporary composers, Busoni, etc...

Finale Forum

Far 3 Piano Keys

Far 3 Piano Keys

Far 3 Piano Keys

97 Keys

Far 3 Piano Keys

Re: Far 3 Piano Keys

Alternatives to Trees

Re: Far 3 Piano Keys