Does key size vary?

[mark1]

This may be a really stupid question...but it is a question. Do the keys on a spinet  vary in size to that of a grand? I play on a spinet 99% of the time and recently I went to the local piano dealer and tried out a grand (can't remember brand) and was shocked at how much easier is was to play. It seemed as though my fingers had more room to move as compared to my little spinet! Is this my imagination?...if not I'm gettin' a new piano! Thanks for your help.                            Mark

[dj]

o for goodness sake get the new piano anyway! i don't think there is any size difference in the keyboard of an upright vs. grand; however, after practicing on a grand every day, an upright that i played recently felt quite different.....not smaller really, i think toy-like would b a better word 2 describe it.....but if u can afford to get the grand piano, do it!

[Piazzo22]

The width of the black keys vary in pianos. But this has nothing to do with the format of the piano, spinet, upright,...
I have an old german Ritmüller upright that has black keys much bigger than the upright Förster i use.

[dinosaurtales]

The widths are a standard size, but the length is different.  many upright keys are almost an inch shorter than those of a grand.  The reason the grand seems easier to play has to do with the way the action is built.  On a grand the action strikes the hammer up to the string, so you get the advantage of gravity working for you.  That combined with a longer key (better leverage) provides a different feel from an upright action.  Also, if the grand was any good at all, it prbably beat out the upright in that very few uprights get good actions built into them.

[Piazzo22]

The widths are a standard size, but the length is different.  

It deppends on the  time of the piano and the maker.
The width of the keys in my Ritmüller is way bigger than  in my Förster (Löbau). And they´re both from around 1910. I can tell ´cause I own them.

[mark1]

Thanks for all of your responses! So i'm not crazy. I may have to graduate up to a nicer piano, or one better suited to what i need. Once again...thanks.     Mark