Interesting Keyboard Arrangements - anyone tried one?

[nullogik]

Janko Keyboard:</p>

I've just come across the Janko keyboard which has been around for sometime (1882) but has never really taken off.</p>

Taken from Wikipedia:</p>

Based on the premise that the hand can barely stretch more than a 9th on the piano, and that all scales
are fingered differently, Jankó's new keyboard had two interlocking
'manuals' with three touch-points for each key lever. Instead of the
traditional row of white and black keys, the keyboard has an array of
keys. </p>

Each vertical column of keys is a half step away from its
neighboring columns, and on each horizontal row of keys the interval
from one note to the next is a whole step. This key layout results in
all chords and scales having the same "shape" on the keyboard with the
same fingerings regardless of key, unlike a traditional keyboard.</p>


For an 88 note (full size) keyboard, there would be 264 keys in
total, with each note playable by 3 keys in vertical alignment. In the
picture, the white keys have been coloured to show how the keys are
interconnected.</p>

</p>

More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janko_keyboard</p>

Bilinear Chromatic Keyboard</p><p align="left"><font face="Arial" size="3">The Bilinear Chromatic Keyboard is
an alternative design to
the conventional keyboard layout, requiring only two patterns for any scale, chord, arpeggio, melody
or harmony (compared to the twelve patterns required for the traditional
diatonic keyboard).</font> </p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial" size="3">Although the arrangement of notes is
chromatic, keys are coloured in the same way as traditional keyboard keys, with
white keys corresponding to the C major scale:</font></p><p align="left"></p>

Anyone tried any of these wierd and wonderful keyboard arrangements, particularly the Janko? Would be interesting to try out a Janko keyboard based organ with Janko foot pedals.</p>

Anymore arrangements of keyboards you've come across?</p>

[soubasse32]

Re: Interesting Keyboard Arrangements - anyone tried one?

Never tried any non-standard keyboard layouts (other than organs/clavichords/harpsichords with short-octave basses) - but in regards to the Jankokeyboardthis linkshould be of interest.

[Clarion]

Re: Interesting Keyboard Arrangements - anyone tried one?



If it ain't broke . . . don'tfix it! [:S]</P>


A few decades ago, someone came up with the same idiotic kind of idea for typewriters; and it wasn't all that long ago the Microsoftcame up with theergonomically superior split keyboard concept. These ideas also failed for obvious reasons.</P>


Just like the novel ideas proposed for typewriter/computer keyboards, obviously crafted by someone whocouldn't type; The Janko keyboard was designed by someone who couldn't play![:S]</P>
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[soubasse32]

Re: Interesting Keyboard Arrangements - anyone tried one?



Well I say "bravo" to anyone who innovates and thinks out of the box.</P>


Even failuresare worthwhile, becausethey are a signthatwe are striving to improve andevolve.</P>


If humans were content with the status quo we might not even have musical instruments today.</P>

[myorgan]

Re: Interesting Keyboard Arrangements - anyone tried one?



OK, for out-of-the-box, try this one on for size.</P>


I have a teenage student who plays piano by ear. When he came to me, he refused to learn traditional notation, because he has very poor eyesight and was not allowed to have his glasses (we require BCG's). However, uponhis perceived failure to learn guitar, he translates the guitar tablature on the keyboard and is close to being able to read guitar tablature on the piano--ON SIGHT!!![:O] [:|]</P>


Works for him, but strains my brain!</P>


Just so I don't get the expected questions, please check out my profile and teaching situation before chastising me for not forcing him to learn notation. Ironically, he's now requesting to learn to read notes--go figure! Not bad for an O.D.D. student.</P>


Michael</P>

[afuller5]

Re: Interesting Keyboard Arrangements - anyone tried one?



Hi all,</p>

The Janko keyboard is very similar to the Uniform keyboard "invented" for the accordion by John Rueter. Here is a link to information regarding the Uniform keyboard for accordion. On this site is a link to an article about Rueter and his invention of this keyboard.</p>

There are also other layouts for chromatic button accordions. These were invented before the piano accordion. The button accordions are still commonly played throughout the world, although not so much in the USA. They are standard for accordions in much of the world. Here is a link for information on the other systems. With these button accordions, it is very easy to play certain passages and "runs" very quickly, more quickly than on a piano accordion. Also, it lets the accordionist play chords that span much more than an octave.</p>

I just wanted to mention the accordion info to indicate that just because the idea did not catch on with pianos and organs does not necessarily mean it is an inferior idea. Sometimes a different system is not a popular and does not become the standard. This alone does not make it inferior to the standard. An example would be the Beta vs. VHS video tape formats.</p>

Later,</p>

Allen</p>

P.S. Yes, I also played piano accordion for a while.
</p>


[quote user="Clarion"]</p>

If it ain't broke . . . don'tfix it! [:S]</p>


A few decades ago, someone came up with the same idiotic kind of idea for typewriters; and it wasn't all that long ago the Microsoftcame up with theergonomically superior split keyboard concept. These ideas also failed for obvious reasons.</p>


Just like the novel ideas proposed for typewriter/computer keyboards, obviously crafted by someone whocouldn't type; The Janko keyboard was designed by someone who couldn't play![:S]</p>
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[nullogik]

Re: Interesting Keyboard Arrangements - anyone tried one?



Wouldn't it be wonderful if say, Allen built a Janko organ just for fun. </p>

I'd love try it out!</p>

How about Janko foot pedals - now that would be a challenge!</p>

[radagast]

Re: Interesting Keyboard Arrangements - anyone tried one?

[quote user="soubasse32"]


Well I say "bravo" to anyone who innovates and thinks out of the box.</P>


Even failuresare worthwhile, becausethey are a signthatwe are striving to improve andevolve.</P>


If humans were content with the status quo we might not even have musical instruments today.</P>


[/quote]</P>


At some point, the current keyboard layout for pianos and organs had to be new. Someone had to innovate to come up with that.</P>


On the other hand, I wonderWhat Hanon's "Virtuoso Jankoist" would be like.</P>
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[soubasse32]

Re: Interesting Keyboard Arrangements - anyone tried one?



[quote user="radagast"]...I wonderWhat Hanon's "Virtuoso Jankoist" would be like.[/quote]</P>


I bet this fellow would know:</P>


</P>

[Havoc]

Re: Interesting Keyboard Arrangements - anyone tried one?



That LP cover hurts....</p>

Now also fun: http://phonoarchive.org/grove/Entries/S47628.htm#S47628
http://members.aol.com/musikstamm/enharm.htm

</p>

[Guest]

Re: Interesting Keyboard Arrangements - anyone tried one?

[quote user="soubasse32"]

[quote user="radagast"]...I wonderWhat Hanon's "Virtuoso Jankoist" would be like.[/quote]</p>


I bet this fellow would know:</p>


</p>

[/quote]</p>

</p>

Is this LP from your 'pop' collection, Soubasse? [:)]</p>

[soubasse32]

Re: Interesting Keyboard Arrangements - anyone tried one?



[:D]</P>


This was standard television fare when I was growingup.</P>


Believe it or not.</P>