I have no idea what it's called but I'm curious why most pianos have a flat section to the left of the keys, and what it's called.
It almost looks perfect for resting a cup of tea on which sounds like a horrible idea unless you want sticky keys.
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12Perhaps it contains the forbidden keys...– Alexander NiedMay 2, 2022 at 3:55
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3There is also one to the right.– user207421May 2, 2022 at 4:04
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Yeah but it’s a more reasonable size and doesn’t jump out at you– joeyfbMay 2, 2022 at 4:09
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4That's for your coffee.– MaxMay 2, 2022 at 9:26
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4@AlexanderNied There actually are some pianos which do have some extra keys (generally at the bass end, not the treble, up to 92 or 97 total), and they are sometimes covered with a lid like that (though not usually locked), and/or reverse-colored to distinguish them from the usual 88 keys.– Darrel HoffmanMay 2, 2022 at 14:42
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4 Answers
As @BobBroadley says, the Key Block holds the keyboard in place. However, why is the key block needed in the first place? Presumably the left side of the case could do the same job.
The first key blocks
Key blocks have been a part of pianos since their invention. The article Who invented the piano – and why does nobody remember him? includes a (copyright controlled) image of a Cristofori piano, clearly showing key blocks at either end.
The why is that room for the piano's frame is needed between the action and the case. Pianos are not mounted directly on the case, rather the frame rests inside.
Modern pianos
Upright / Vertical
In addition to leaving room for the frame, extra room is needed on modern pianos to account for the diagonal placement of the strings. The strings in the piano are set at an angle, which allows for greater string length without lengthening the entire instrument. Because of this, there's extra space at the end of the piano.
Here's an interior view of a typical upright piano (an Essex). Notice how the bass strings extend past the left edge of the keyboard.
In fact, one can see that the action itself is angled to the left., and there is also room for the frame and some of the pedal mechanism. Thus, the key block is a necessity.
Grand pianos
The situation on a grand piano is the same. First, there needs to be room for the plate (frame) between the case and the action. In addition, due to the angled strings and the hammer strike point (shown in the picture below), there needs to be some extra room for the strings to meet the pin block.
(and, yes, putting a teacup there is a terrible idea. )
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Also note that parts of the mechanics extend further to the sides than then keys do. For one thing, both the mechanics and the strings need a frame that occupies some space. And for another, the connections to the pedals must bypass the keys as well. In the last image, it's obvious that the back-rest for the hammers, which can be moved by stepping on a pedal, is significantly wider than the keyboard and the hammer array itself. May 2, 2022 at 7:43
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3"And, yes, putting a teacup there is a terrible idea." -- Use a slider. And don't put sugar in your tea, you barbarian. ;-)– DevSolarMay 2, 2022 at 11:52
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+1 Another example of how things on the outside can be easily understood by looking on the inside.– J...May 2, 2022 at 16:25
In addition to holding the keyboard in place, and allowing for diagonal stringing... these provide room for playing un-inhibitedly (when appropriate) at the outer ends of the keyboard, without running one's hand up against the little "walls" at the end. A little extra room is nice.
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2That makes a lot of sense. Even grand pianos which don't need diagonal keys have a reasonable sized (though evenly sized) keyblocks– joeyfbMay 2, 2022 at 0:53
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1Looking at it from an angle it looked even but I see no the key blocks are actually uneven on a grand as well. Glad to know the more expensive models still have great tea rests.– joeyfbMay 2, 2022 at 2:50
I'm a professional piano tuner, and can confirm that this block is provided by the manufacturer primarily for your drink and cigarettes.
The overstringing bit was an afterthought, they wondered what to do with the extra space the so-called "beer and fags shelf" created so they angled the bass strings to fill the gap.
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2The B-3 even came with a cigarette lighter, I'm told. pinterest.com/pin/506514289331842292 May 2, 2022 at 15:33
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Love the Hammond with ciggie lighter 😂😂😂 absolutely love it. 👍👍 Just wants an optic for the Scotch and we're good to go.– GraemeMay 2, 2022 at 16:58
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You'd think in the current century the block would contain an iPad-Mini May 3, 2022 at 17:02
They are called key blocks. They hold the piano keyboard in place.
answered May 1, 2022 at 17:32
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I imagine they exist because the piano frame/strings/etc is typically wider than they keys so there naturally needs to be something there to make up for the width difference?– joeyfbMay 1, 2022 at 17:38
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@Tim because the lower strings need to be longer than the higher strings, so those are the strings which will be more tilted. Hence the left hand side having a larger key block.– joeyfbMay 2, 2022 at 6:29
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@joeyfb: Depending upon the piano design, they may also serve a practical purpose of, as the answer notes, holding the keyboard assembly in place. I haven't disassembled a piano, but on my reed organ, disassembly would start by removing the keyslip (the board in front of the keys), which would then allow the key blocks to be slid forward and removed. Once that is done, and the tremulant control rod is removed, the keyboard may be lifted up (lifting up the keyboard without removing the control rod first will snap the control rod for the umpteenth time).– supercatMay 3, 2022 at 21:20