KEYBEDDING
The practice of holding a piano key down with more pressure than is necessary is called
keybedding. It is undesirable because it wastes energy and inhibits relaxation.
KEYBOARD
Layout
Up to the mid fourteenth century or so keyboards were laid out according to the modes
which were the basis of the musical system. The notes corresponded to our ‘white’ notes
and there were no ‘black’ notes.
The interval of the augmented fourth, B to F, was, however, considered discordant. To
remedy this, B was lowered by adding an extra short key. This was the first ‘black’ note,
B flat, and was followed by the ‘black’ notes F sharp, E flat, C sharp and G sharp. This
was the modern layout and contemporaneous paintings show that it existed as long ago as
1361.
On earlier keyboards there was often a different colour scheme for the keys. On the
Mozart piano, for example, the black notes corresponded to our white notes and the
brown notes corresponded to our black notes.
Range
Almost every modern piano has 88 keys comprising seven octaves and a minor third,
from A0 to C8. Many older pianos only have 85 keys comprising seven octaves, from
A0 to A7. Some manufacturers extend the range further in one or both directions. The
most notable example of an extended range can be found on Bösendorfer pianos. One
model extends the normal range down to F0 while another model goes as far as bottom
C0 making a full octave range. On some pianos these keys are hidden under a small
hinged lid which can be flipped down to cover the keys and avoid visual disorientation in
a pianist unfamiliar with the extended keyboard. On other pianos the colours of the extra
white keys are reversed so they are black not white.
The extra keys are added primarily for increased resonance from the associated strings,
that is, they vibrate sympathetically with other strings whenever the damper pedal is
depressed and thus give a fuller tone. Only a very small number of works composed for
the piano actually use these notes. More recently the Stuart and Sons Company has made
extended-range pianos. On their instruments the range is extended down the bass to F0
and up the treble to F8 for a full eight octaves. The extra keys are the same as the other
keys in appearance.
Small studio upright type pianos with only 65 keys have been manufactured for use by
travelling pianists. Even though they contain a cast iron harp, they are comparatively