So, how high is the piano keyboard from the floor? How high should my piano keyboards be? Being comfortable with your musical instrument is an essential thing in your development as a musician, and for pianists, the height of the piano is really one of the first things they should be familiar with, so they can make adjustments to still be able to achieve the correct and comfortable posture.
How High Should My Piano Keyboard Be?
In playing any musical instrument, one of the most important things you should always check is whether you are comfortable playing with it or not. In piano keyboards, whether it is acoustic or digital, their height is really a huge factor, as it can really affect your comfort playing with it.
So, how high should my piano keyboard be? When it comes to acoustic pianos, their standard height from the floor is 75cm or 29.5 inches; however, it can vary from 27.5 inches to 30 inches. It also usually comes with a piano stool with a standard height of 19.5 inches or 50 centimeters, though you can still adjust it if you are uncomfortable with its height, as most of them come with that feature.
For digital piano keyboards, its average height from the floor is usually from 28 to 29 inches, although you can make easier adjustments with it compared to an acoustic piano, as it is usually placed on an adjustable stand, which will allow you to make an adjustment to its height to where you are comfortable playing while you are sitting on your stool or playing in a standing position.
It is important that you are familiar with the dimensions of an acoustic or digital piano keyboard, as you can start to think about the adjustments you are going to make if you think that you would feel uncomfortable with your posture when playing the instrument.
What is the difference in the height of the white and black keys? Did you notice that the black keys on the piano keyboard are positioned higher than the white keys? Black keys are usually placed one-half inch higher than the white keys on your piano keyboard, depending on its manufacturer.
How Wide Is A Piano Keyboard?
Aside from knowing its height, you also know the usual width of an acoustic and digital piano keyboard, so you can have a better idea of how much space you are going to need to place your piano keyboard, whether in your home or studio, as maybe you will still need to make some adjustments in your place of choice, so you can fit your piano keyboard in it.
For vertical pianos, such as upright, spinet, console, and studio pianos, they have a width of 59 inches, while grand pianos, such as a baby grand, concert, and medium, have a width of almost 60 inches. So, why do acoustic pianos have the same width but not have the same height and length?
While upright pianos usually differ in height, grand pianos are also different in length, but all in all, they have the same width, so why is it? Its reason is that their soundboards do not have the same size and the length of their strings also differ from each other.
As upright pianos have taller and bigger soundboards and longer strings, resulting in a more resonant and fuller sound, which is also the reason why they differ in their heights. On the other hand, grand pianos’ soundboards and strings are horizontal to their keys, and as they also have larger soundboards and longer strings, it means that their lengths will also vary.
For digital piano keyboards, their widths also differ depending on the number of keys that comes with them. A digital piano with 49 keys usually has a width of 25 inches, while those that have 54 keys have an average width of 31 inches. If you have a digital piano with 61 keys, it probably has a width of 38 inches, while it is 41 inches for a digital piano with 76 keys. Lastly, a digital piano keyboard with 88 keys has the widest width of all, which is 63 inches.
How To Have A Proper Posture In Playing The Piano
Proper posture is an essential thing that all pianists and keyboardists should learn, as it can do wonders for your body, allowing you to play the musical instrument longer and more comfortably. Here are the ways to be able to develop a proper posture for novice pianists:
Your Neck Must Be Constantly Aligned With Your Back
The first thing you should practice when you are sitting at your piano bench or stool is to keep your neck aligned with your back all the time. So, even if you are looking at the score, you move your eyes rather than your neck to be able to read it.
Having an aligned neck all the time while playing the piano will do many wonders for your body, as it will protect you from future problems. With a forward neck, you only put more strain on your body from the shoulder, upper back, and neck, as they have to compensate for the added weight that comes with your neck uncomfortably supporting your head.
Always Keep Your Shoulders Down
When playing the piano, your body, especially your shoulders, must always be relaxed. Raising your shoulders won’t help in channeling the weight of your arms and body as you play the musical instrument. This will put a strain on your body, which could result in you not being able to last long playing or practicing.
It is important that you will be able to control how much weight from your body you are going to use to put into achieving the full range of articulations and dynamics that are needed in playing the piece. This is why both your shoulders should always be untensed and kept low when playing the piano.
Your Elbows Must Be In A Comfortable Distance Away From Your Body
Aside from having a relaxed shoulder, your elbows must also be positioned almost around the level of the keyboard, and your forearms must be parallel to the ground. You should always prevent your elbows from touching your ribcage, and they also should not look like birds’ wings that are flapping every time you play. As your elbows are oddly rotated, it will also result in putting more strain on your shoulders, and your range of movements will surely be limited.
Your Knees Must Be In The Right Distance From The Keyboard
When sitting on your bench or stool, you should also consider the distance of your knees to the piano keyboard. With the right distance, you are allowing yourself to have a more comfortable playing experience. As your knees are properly placed, you will also have better control with the sustain pedal on your feet.
If your knees are too far from the piano keyboard, it will also put more strain on your arms, which results in a limited range of movement, while if your knees are too close, it will also give you a hard time keeping your feet on the pedals, which can be pretty uncomfortable with some time.
So, how high is the piano keyboard from the floor? For acoustic pianos, it has a standard height of 29.5 inches from the floor but can still vary from 27.5 to 30 inches, depending on the piano. On the other hand, digital pianos have an average height of 28 to 29 inches, which can be easily adjusted by using an adjustable keyboard stand.
