Piano Guidance
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Can you replace a keyboard key?

If the manufacturer does not have replacement keys or kits available, and there is a keyboard key that you don't frequently use, consider swapping them it. You can exchange any two keys that are the same size. For example, if your "H" key were sticking or lost, you could replace it the Windows menu key.

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Where can I find a replacement for a keyboard key?

Whether you've lost, broken or worn out a key or keycap on a keyboard you have a few options. The solutions range in price and difficulty, so we recommend checking out each section. However, if you already know which solution you'd like to go with, select it from the list below and follow the instructions.

Online retailer

For the most part, the fastest and most efficient way to remedy the problem is to visit an online retailer. If you have a desktop, it's highly unlikely that you'll be able to locate single keys and will probably need to replace it with a purchase from Amazon. For laptop computers, places like Laptop-keys.com have a very wide selection. In some instances, you can contact the keyboard manufacturer or, if it's a laptop the laptop manufacturer for a replacement. Unfortunately, in almost all situations it's necessary to replace the keyboard since most manufacturers do not have single keys available for purchase. However, many laptop companies offer keyboard key kits, which contain many of the parts necessary to fix their keyboards.

Swap keyboard keys

If the manufacturer does not have replacement keys or kits available, and there is a keyboard key that you don't frequently use, consider swapping them it. You can exchange any two keys that are the same size. For example, if your "H" key were sticking or lost, you could replace it the Windows menu key. Local computer repair shops often replace and fix keyboards on laptops. They may have spare broken keyboards that they'd be willing to let you have or use for spare keys. Additionally, many keyboards and other spare parts are sold on eBay and other auction sites, check these pages for replacements. Notice If this is a laptop key, keycap, or key component, make sure you're getting a key or keyboard that is compatible with your model of laptop. There are many different laptop keyboards and they are not all compatible.

Replace worn key stickers

If you need to replace a key because it's worn out, consider purchasing a keyboard sticker set instead of replacing the key entirely.

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When did 88 keys become standard?

1890s By the 1890s, today's modern keyboard had become established with 88 keys spanning 7¼ octaves (from 2A to C5; 27.5 Hz to 4,186 Hz*).

The piano that Bartolomeo Cristofori first invented in Italy had only 54 keys. As piano music developed and evolved, the keyboard compass was gradually expanded in response to requests from composers who sought a broader potential for expression. By the 1890s, today's modern keyboard had become established with 88 keys spanning 7¼ octaves (from 2A to C5; 27.5 Hz to 4,186 Hz*). The human ear can hear sounds in the range from approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, but the upper limit of frequencies that the human brain can discriminate is at the very most around 4,000 Hz. Even if the compass were to be expanded by increasing the number of keys on the piano, to the human ear, the extra notes at the bass end would become nothing more than a rumbling noise, and the added treble notes would be heard as an unpleasant dissonant noise with no sense of being in a tonal range, and thus, musically, would be almost meaningless. Boesendorfer is making 97-key pianos with nine additional keys in the bass segment of the keyboard (2C to C5). However, the strings for these nine keys in the lowest bass segment are really only there to provide a richer sound when other keys are played by resonating with them. In reality, the extra keys themselves are almost never played directly. * When A is tuned to 440 Hz. The pitch of the individual keys will vary depending on the tuning method.

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