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If you are interested in novel keyboard layouts, there are many 2-dimensional chromatic layouts where transposition is isomorphic (i.e. playing in a different key only requires changing where you start). In one notable example, all major and minor triads can be played with a single finger[1], because 5ths and major/minor thirds are always adjacent.

1: http://www.shapeofmusic.com/note-pattern.php



This is me playing a keyboard with a "Janko" chromatic layout: https://youtu.be/82xaEGgiiRs

I gave it a shot but found it difficult to unlearn a decade of traditional piano training. Also, unlike typing in Dvorak, you can't just use software to change the layouts of existing instruments. That said, if anyone knows where to find a high-quality piano with a chromatic layout, I'd love play it!


The Lumatone is a high quality isomorphic keyboard. There's software to control the layouts, and you can use layouts other people have created: https://en.xen.wiki/w/Category:Lumatone_mappings . I'll warn you though that the keyboard costs around 4000 USD, and it's around a 2 month wait for the company to build it and ship it after the order.

https://www.lumatone.io/


Thanks, this is definitely something I'd be interested in!


Thanks, the Janko layout was another one I was trying to remember; I was thrown because the images on the Janko wikipedia page are of the original Janko, and I had seen the Janko layout on the Japanese keyboards (e.g. the Chromatone and the Wholetone) which use hexagonal keys so look quite different.


You might as well want to check out this tool: https://www.harmopark.app




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