Our Research   by   David Steinbuhler                                            

   From 1998 to 2005, Steinbuhler & Company extended an invitation to pianists to come to Titusville, Pennsylvania and discover what size piano keyboard most comfortably fit their hands. Looking back at the activity that took place in our “showroom”, I now realize that it constituted vital research.  To my knowledge, in the 300-year history of the piano, there has been no other comparable study.
   The hands we observed were ones that were not going to grow further; hands that had reached maturity both male and female. The pianists who came were motivated purely by the desire to find the keyboard size that best suited them. The environment we provided was one of relaxed comfort.  There were rooms where they could spend the night. In an uninterrupted afternoon or an entire weekend they would work with keyboards of every size.
   In addition to a Steinway B that was fitted with a complete range of keyboard sizes, we provided other pianos with conventional as well as smaller keyboards, which gave the pianists the freedom to experiment by going between pianos.  Also, as they desired, we would change the keyboard in the Steinway B to one that was slightly smaller or slightly larger. Always for me, the primary objective was to determine how many additional standards we should recommend and what sizes they should be.

Our Method
   For the purposes of this discussion, I will refer to the size of the keyboard by its overall width. The average modern conventional keyboard measures just over 48”. The first keyboards we built were 42” in width.  By 1998 we also had keyboards that measured 39” and 45”.
   With these three additional keyboard sizes to work with, we immediately learned that there was strong interest in more than just one additional standard. The great relief experienced by the 42” keyboard was accompanied by a desire to go smaller. There were also those pianists who desired relief from the pain and strain they experienced playing the conventional piano, but found the 42” keyboard too small.  It quickly became very clear we needed at least two more keyboard sizes in addition to the conventional keyboard.
   To determine the size of two additional standards, our next step was to do a thorough study at the small end of the range.  For this we built 5 keyboards that measured from 38” to 42” in one-inch increments. After establishing a practical small size we could then add the appropriate in-between size.

The Results
   When does the keyboard become too small?  One pianist told me she wanted to “walk 10ths like Oscar Peterson” and to do this she calculated she would need a 38” keyboard.  She flew all the way across the country to try our smallest keyboards to discover they became too cramped for her.
   There was always the secondary consideration of the width of the sharps and the tradeoff that exists between the landing area on the sharp’s top and the space between them. After some experimentation, we found it prudent to keep close to the natural/sharp ratio found on conventional keyboards.
   Measuring dozens of hands, comparing them to the full range of hand sizes found in mature pianists, listening to the feedback, and seeing what size keyboards were purchased, soon lead us to an appropriate small size.  For pianists whose hand spans are in the 7” to 8” range there was a desire to go smaller than the 42” keyboard as everyone wants to play 10ths comfortably. But once they went below a 40” keyboard the space between the sharps was becoming too confined for all but the smallest hands with thin fingers. It became clear the 41” keyboard was the best overall choice even though 10ths were still out of reach for the smallest hands.
   Starting with the conventional keyboard having an octave of 6.5” and using the ratio 48/52 to calculate the two smaller keyboards, we then established the following three standards:
     Conventional Keyboard - 6.5” octave,   48.29” overall width
     15/16 - Universal Keyboard - 6” octave,   44.57” overall width
     7/8 - DS Standard™ Keyboard - 5.54” octave,   41.14” overall width

Discussion
   It was interesting to observe that small changes in keyboard size did not make much difference to pianists once they had gotten to a size that was “in their zone.”  For instance, we built a 46.37” keyboard and a male with an average hand would notice little difference, whereas a small handed pianist would immediately notice relief.  This made the selection of the exact size for a standard not that critical.
   Although we suggested a keyboard that was larger than the conventional keyboard, no pianist requested to try it.  Given the fact that the large conventional size already exists, we feel confident we are offering nearly optimum sizes for every mature pianist.  For a small child, we have suggested the use of a keyboard the next size down with a 5.11” octave and a 37.98” overall width.
   All of my observations relating hand span to keyboard size are summed up in the chart below.  Notice the three keyboards are divided into three overlapping zones allowing for differences in finger thickness and personal preference. The use of three sizes afford comfortable jumps from one keyboard to the next.  Although some pianists have purchased custom keyboards, there is no compelling need to have more than these three recommended standards. As can be imagined, the greatest need is to level the playing field for the smaller handed pianists and for the 7/8 keyboard.

The hand span data in this chart was collected at the 2004 MTNA National Convention.

© 2006 Steinbuhler & Company