Piano Guidance
Photo by Yan Krukov Pexels Logo Photo: Yan Krukov

Why is it called a chiclet keyboard?

Keyboard History Believe it or not, the chiclet keyboard is actually named after the small, rectangular-shaped pieces of chewing gum. Yes, they have a similar shape and size enabled by a bezel which fills the gaps between the keys.

Why does Berniece play the piano at the end?
Why does Berniece play the piano at the end?

Story Dynamics. Berniece refuses to play the piano because she's afraid to wake the spirits of her ancestors. However, when Boy Willie is attacked...

Read More »
Can you sand a piano?
Can you sand a piano?

Step 4: Sand and/or strip your piano's surfaces If you're planning on staining your piano, you'll want to thoroughly sand its surfaces to remove...

Read More »

Tech connoisseurs eat them up

There are a number of keyboard styles available on the market, but the most popular is the “chiclet” which is characterized by flat tops and extra space between keys. It is the most common form of keyboard on personal computers and calculators, but how did it get that name and what makes it so popular? (And what does VAIO have to do with it)?

Keyboard History

Believe it or not, the chiclet keyboard is actually named after the small, rectangular-shaped pieces of chewing gum. Yes, they have a similar shape and size enabled by a bezel which fills the gaps between the keys. Considered low quality and a poor design choice when they arrived on the scene in the early 1980s, today the chiclet-style keyboard is ubiquitous. They are everywhere including the most sophisticated laptop keyboards. The evolution of the chiclet-style has also been interesting in that there is still no one universal design since the size and shape of the keyboard can vary widely. Some keys create their own electrical circuit when pressed into the membrane while others have individual scissor switches that allow for a stable key and low profile. Chiclet-style keyboards usually have several different layers to mimic the touch and feel found in membrane keyboards. This also allows enough force to be exerted when pressing the key to create a conductive trace or electrical flow, but also stops the flow when in its default position.

Human-Computer Interface

The biggest feature and benefit of the chiclet-style keyboard is its tactile feedback – the satisfying, tangible feeling when you press and release a key. Conceptually, such a feeling is supposed to increase typing accuracy by signaling to the operator that the keypress registered properly. Due to their popularity and versatility, standalone chiclet-style keyboards are inexpensive and easily replaced. And they practically own the ultra-thin laptop and gaming market because they trap less dust and dirt and are easier to clean than traditional keyboards.

VAIO’s Innovative Role

Now, where does VAIO fit in? Guess which laptop made the world sit up and take notice that chiclets could be the thinnest, most elegant way to build a keyboard into ultraportable lightweight laptops. That’s right, it was VAIO with the VAIO X505, a laptop released in 2005. Until then, no one had any idea that the design of a laptop keyboard could make such a huge difference in typing experience. The rest is history.

What happens if you never tune a piano?
What happens if you never tune a piano?

A non-tuned piano will not only sound pretty horrible, but in fact it can also inhibit your musical development. Playing at the wrong pitch all the...

Read More »
What is the average age for Grade 5 piano?
What is the average age for Grade 5 piano?

This also states that the 'typical Grade 5 practical candidate is 14 years old'. Aug 26, 2013

Read More »

What does E minor look like?

E minor is a minor scale based on E, consisting of the pitches E, F♯, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has one sharp. ... E minor. Relative key G major Parallel key E major Dominant key B minor Subdominant A minor Component pitches 1 more row

en.wikipedia.org - E minor - Wikipedia

Minor scale based on E

E minor is a minor scale based on E, consisting of the pitches E, F♯, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has one sharp. Its relative major is G major and its parallel major is E major.

The E natural minor scale is:

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can download the audio file Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with accidentals as necessary. The E harmonic minor and melodic minor scales are: Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can download the audio file Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can download the audio file Much of the classical guitar repertoire is in E minor, as this is a very natural key for the instrument. In standard tuning (E A D G B E), four of the instrument's six open (unfretted) strings are part of the tonic chord. The key of E minor is also popular in heavy metal music, as its tonic is the lowest note on a standard-tuned guitar.

Notable compositions [ edit ]

See also [ edit ]

Should I learn piano or violin?
Should I learn piano or violin?

Piano is much easier than violin to start with. You still need a teacher for good technique, but you can get them in later when you have some basic...

Read More »
How many songs would I need for 4 hours?
How many songs would I need for 4 hours?

First, you will need about 20 songs an hour. For a 4 hour party that is 80 songs, maybe 100 to be on the safe side or to have a few extra in case...

Read More »
Did Jimi Hendrix know theory?
Did Jimi Hendrix know theory?

In short, Jimi Hendrix was a musical genius, had perfect pitch and was a true pioneer in sparking many genres of music. Most of us are not. Yes, it...

Read More »
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »
Do pianists play from memory?
Do pianists play from memory?

Pianists use their muscle memory to remember all the notes while playing. When a pianist plays a piece their muscle memory helps them to play the...

Read More »