Ideal pedal key width

[shivasage]

Hi guys. I'm in the process of designing a pedalboard. It won't have to fit into any pre-existing instrument so I can make it any dimensions I like. I've been researching catalogues for information on definitions and what I've come up with is that an average width of a key is about 7/8" or 22mm and the average distance between the center of adjacent keys is about 1 1/4" or 32mm.

I know everyone has different bodies and capabilities. I myself am a bit taller and lankier than average, but nothing extreme. All that being said, I'm curious, have you ever wished the pedals were narrower and/or closer together to make the reach easier? Or would this make it too easy to accidentally hit adjacent keys?

I've never played on a pedalboard myself so I have no reference or experience. All I know is that I'm always looking for ways to make playing an instrument slightly more ergonomic, and since I'll be making this one from scratch, I want to make it as best I can.

[bourniplus]

Hi. Can't you recycle a pedalboard from an old organ? They're really not that hard to find for free in the US and Canada at least.
This said, I once built my own 2-octave midi pedalboard using furring strips as pedals, spaced much closer than usual, to make it as small and portable as possible. I always play without shoes which made this possible. I've actually used it on gigs in organ trio setting. Also, lately I've converted a 2-octave pedalboard from an organ to turn it into a giant electric pedal-clavichord with 2 strings. The spacing is similar to the frets on a guitar, but surprisingly I find that my feet have adapted to this spacing. This is just to say that since it's your own instrument, might as well make it the way you like!

[shivasage]

Hi. Can't you recycle a pedalboard from an old organ? They're really not that hard to find for free in the US and Canada at least.
This said, I once built my own 2-octave midi pedalboard using furring strips as pedals, spaced much closer than usual, to make it as small and portable as possible. I always play without shoes which made this possible. I've actually used it on gigs in organ trio setting. Also, lately I've converted a 2-octave pedalboard from an organ to turn it into a giant electric pedal-clavichord with 2 strings. The spacing is similar to the frets on a guitar, but surprisingly I find that my feet have adapted to this spacing. This is just to say that since it's your own instrument, might as well make it the way you like!

My options are pretty limited as I don't own a car, and even if I did I've only found a couple of 25-key boards within driving distance but I want to have 27 keys. Although I'll probably spend more money (and a lot more time) making my own, it seems fun and educational and I'll be able to customize it.

I considered using furring strips but I'm currently considering using solid pieces of poplar. I guess I became (illogically) attached to the idea of using hardwood, as well as thinking that the 3/4" size of a 1xX furring strip would be too thin after I've sanded it down. But I may reconsider.

Do you have any pictures of either the narrow pedalboard or the electric pedal clavichord? I'm actually quite intrigued by your pedal clavichord because that is exactly what I am trying to make!

[bourniplus]

I once made a web page about that furring strip pedalboard but I don't think it exists anymore. In its first version it had 32 notes and was connected via fishing line to the keys of a small midi keyboard. Eventually I replaced the fishing line by adding switches and soldering wires inside the keyboard, and then later I replaced the keyboard by a small encoder made by Midi gadgets boutique. The advantage with furring strips is that the wide pieces can become white notes, and the narrow pieces can be used for the black notes. However, they're pretty much always twisted. All in all it didn't work that well, and last winter I dismantled it thinking I'd reuse the encoder with a real pedalboard that a friend gave me.
And while toying around with various ideas, I thought of having an upright bass string under the pedals and spacing them accordingly. I'm thinking of making a better video, but in the meantime here's one I made: https://youtu.be/AKbk6APYE6w