Scales on a 3D Printed Isomorphic Piano Keyboard Overlay

[@Persun_McPersonson]

I wonder if this layout could feasibly work built into an acoustic piano without control and leverage being affected too much. Could there be design alterations done to the key design and action to completely mitigate such concerns, or is it an unavoidable physical limitation?

[@Breakfast_and_Bullets]

I'm partial to the phrygian scale, myself

[@JLMoriart]

YOU MUST ALSO ENJOY UNCOOKED BREAD. (...ra do :D)

[@Breakfast_and_Bullets]

@@JLMoriart ra cookie do, actually

[@allfifthstuning865]

Really nice work!

[@juliangoulette7600]

Solfege: Do/Ut Re Mi Fa So(l) La Ti/Si Do/Ut MOSolfege: (null) Large Large Small Large Large Large Small

[@JLMoriart]

Do/Ut Re Mi Fa So(l) La Ti/Si Do/Ut \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / Large Large Small Large Large Large Small ;-)

[@ProfessorBorax]

Question: Why don't you put adjacent whole notes all on the same horizontal line? Thank you in advance.

[@JLMoriart]

If you do that, then your scales actually migrate up or down the keyboard (towards or further away from the player), forcing you to readjust at some point or use a different shape for the same interval. On the janko keyboard (which has adjacent whole notes on the same horizontal line), you need to use two different shapes for the minor second (both up and to the right, and down and to the right) in order to keep from "falling off the edges" of the keyboard. With the layout I'm using, each interval is unambiguously represented. This helps the interface generalize to other tunings, and also (I think) helps a player see the structure of the music they're playing.

[@ProfessorBorax]

@@JLMoriart It would seem the colour patern also helps solve the ambiguity of multiple possible fingerings, as well as the ergonomic positioning of adjacent notes. Cool. I'll probably try printing one of these out once I get my hands on a printer. I might go for a different colour scheme though. Black white and red for example.

[@ProfessorBorax]

@@JLMoriart Any thoughts on an alternative notation system to go with it? I think Clairnote has good potenial.

[@gguitarwilly]

@@JLMoriart Hi John, interesting answer. Unfortunately you play the scales so fast that I can't make out exactly what happens in terms of fingering and finger position on the keys. It is true that on Janko it is necessary to make vertical position 'jumps' as well as the obvious horizontal ones. If your keyboard layout would remedy that, that would be quite something. However, looking at the slim keytop endings i can't help but wonder if the fingers get stuck or lack room there.

[@JLMoriart]

@@ProfessorBorax Sorry for the slow rely here! I used to be an alternative-notation-enthused dude, but I haven't given it a ton of thought lately, and I don't have any specific suggestions at the moment. Maybe check out archives of the "Music Notation Modernization Association" forums? xD There are tons of ideas there and you may even find old cringy posts of mine =P

[@praticle]

Are you still developing the overlay or is this the final version?

[@JLMoriart]

Howdy! I'm still developing it, but the changes have been much smaller as I settle on the design that I think works pretty well. The next version will have updated heights for the key stalks, shorter (front to back) keys so that keyboards that have lighter actions don't have their feel compromised (or, worse, end up with black keys held down by just the weight/leverage if the overlay key), tighter fit for the metal rod (the hole should be a little small and then drilled out so that there's very little play left to right), and slightly better fit for the keytops over the stalks. I'm way behind on putting the changes together for a release, but it's in the works!

[@praticle]

@@JLMoriart That's great to hear man! 😁 I've been trying to work up the courage to modify the keyboard on my Moog but I like your idea a lot better! 👌

[@user-kx5fs9jy1g]

@@JLMoriart Has there been any other versions since this? And are you still selling them? I will definitely buy one after my upcoming move if so. Quick question, do you have any image of the keyboard with all the note names overlayed on the keys? I am just trying to understand where the notes are so I can better see the relationships.

[@user-kx5fs9jy1g]

I realize you wouldn't need to overlay every note on the keyboard, but if you have an image with the notes overlayed on every key in an octave that would be awesome so I can try and wrap my head around what I'm seeing haha

[@JLMoriart]

@user-kx5fs9jy1g I've tried a bunch of different things since I made this video, but I haven't released a new version. I'm going to get an update uploaded soon-ish. I'm still selling them, but can't help be a bad business person and recommend you don't buy one until this next version is solidified. The little ergonomic improvements will make a big difference, I think. You can watch the second video which covers the layout here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6WwpX6vjqqVl68 And here's two quick images showing the note names: imgur.com/a/HDqCfhR