Comments on: Keyboard coloring variations

By: J Austin

J Austin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:34:35 +0000

If anyone is still following the keyboard coloring thread–I ran across an interesting THREE-color Janko proposal (patent, actually) that seems pretty clever:
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6566593/fulltext.html by S. Roy Pertchik
The idea is to repeat three successive colors/textures, say white, gray, black, on successive keys in the lower 6, and the same colors on the upper six offset by 1.5 spaces, so white above falls midway between the two white below, etc.
The author claims that all scales, intervals, and chords then follow the same relative color sequence in all keys. He further claims that by using keytop textures, the “colors” could be recognized by feel, allowing uniform key shape.
With at least 3 rows of keys (playing on two), then, you could literally use the same fingerings in ALL 12 keys.

By: Evan

Evan — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:13:14 +0000

Juan, thanks for your comment and your excitement! The project has certainly been delayed over the course of the last year. But I’ve found renewed inspiration and commitment and have been working on it for the last few days as a matter of fact. I’ll have to submit another post on it again soon.

By: juan

juan — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:08:28 +0000

hey man!!
what’s the word on piano ninja!!?? You still working on that project?? I just came across it and got incredibly excited? It seems like the coolest thing of all time!! I don’t see any more recent posts — has the project died?