The Future of Piano is Here: Exploring Narrower Keyboards

Imagine walking into the future of piano playing and finding a keyboard that finally fits your hands. That’s exactly what I’ve discovered with the Athena digital piano that features narrower keys. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of, and now, it’s finally here. Why is this so significant? For pianists like myself who can’t quite reach a tenth, this opens up a world of new musical possibilities. If you’ve ever wished you could comfortably play those big, rich chords, you’re going to love what’s happening in piano innovation today.

Playing Schumann’s Carnaval Like Never Before

One piece I’ve always had to adapt is the beginning of Schumann’s Carnaval. Traditionally, I break the large chords to make it work convincingly on a full-size keyboard. But for the first time, on this narrow-key digital piano, I can actually play those large chords solidly without breaking them. That’s a game-changer for me. Now, I won’t say it’s easy—it’s still a stretch. But I can reach them. That’s the power of this new design.

What Are Narrow Keys?

This particular model is called the Athena, and it follows the DS 5.5 standard—meaning the keys span 5.5 inches per octave, compared to the traditional standard 6.5 inches per octave. There’s also a 6.0-inch standard available. These innovations are part of a movement supported by the DS Foundation, led by Christopher Donison and David Steinbuhler, who are pioneers in the world of alternatively sized keyboards. The DS Standard Foundation played a key role in founding PASK (Pianists for Alternatively Sized Keyboards).

For me, the 5.5-inch octave is ideal. I can just barely reach tenths—but I can reach them! Better yet, the black keys are proportionally narrower, so I can easily maneuver between them without struggle. That’s an important design feature for pianists with broader fingers or limited reach.

Are There Acoustic Pianos with Narrower Keys?

Yes! A few manufacturers and innovators are already making this a reality:

Hailun offers uprights with the 6.0-inch standard.

Hannah Reimann creates custom keyboard sets under the Stretto Piano label.

Some Steinways have been retrofitted with custom keysets.

Josef Hofmann, the legendary pianist, had a specially made 7-foot Steinway with narrow keys back in the early 20th century!

In Europe, Kaduk Musical Technology provides key design software and advanced innovations in this field. Stateside, companies like Reyburn Piano Works in Michigan and David Rubenstein in Los Angeles can perform custom key conversions.

Even the respected German maker Steingraeber & Söhne offers custom-sized actions upon request.

Time for a Level Playing Field

Consider this: at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, pianist Magdalene Ho made waves with her profound musicality, despite not advancing in the competition—a result many found baffling. Interestingly, she also plays with a smaller hand span. There’s a deeper point here: the standard keyboard size is simply not suitable for everyone. Just as we wouldn’t expect everyone to wear the same shoe size, pianists deserve instruments that fit their hands. Watch Magdalene Ho’s brilliant rendition of Carnaval.

Celebrated pianist, Daniel Barenboim has recently revealed that he has been playing a smaller keyboard for years!

Lessons from Typewriters and Forgotten Designs

This isn’t a new concept. Think about your QWERTY keyboard—it’s not the most efficient design, but we’re all used to it. The Dvorak keyboard was invented to optimize typing speed, but it never gained traction.

Even more fascinating: in the late 19th century, Paul von Jankó created a keyboard where octaves moved vertically, not horizontally. It allowed players to leap octaves seamlessly. Why didn’t it catch on? Perhaps because audiences loved watching pianists like Liszt make dramatic jumps on traditional keyboards.

Playing Experience: Instant Comfort

You might think it takes time to adjust to narrower keys. But the transition? Practically seamless. I started playing Mozart on this new keyboard, and it felt instantly familiar. Honestly, it’s like slipping into a pair of shoes that finally fit. For my hands, 5.5 inches per octave is perfect. I can manage ninths on a regular piano, but tenths were always out of reach. On this keyboard, I can finally play them solidly—something I never thought I’d do. For pianists who struggle to reach an octave, anything larger than the 5.5 size keys would be of little value.

The Road Ahead: What Needs to Happen

So what’s next? For this movement to grow, we need to agree on a standard alternative size—just one. My vote is for the 5.5-inch octave. Any smaller, and we run into limitations like overly cramped finger spacing. Any larger, and we lose the benefit for small-handed pianists.

Imagine if all major concert halls had two action sets available: one standard, and one with a 5.5-inch octave. Think about the opportunities this would unlock—especially for women and others with smaller hands who’ve historically been at a disadvantage. If Yamaha offered U1 uprights with a narrow key option, or if Steinways in every major hall had a second action set for smaller hands, the playing field would be transformed.

Athena’s new digital piano with narrow keys is, to my knowledge, the first of its kind. And it could be the beginning of a revolution in piano accessibility.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave your comments on LivingPianos.com and YouTube to keep the conversation going! I’m Robert Estrin, and this is LivingPianos.com—Your Online Piano Resource. Thanks so much for joining me.