Piano Key shape

[minona]

Hello, I'm just wondering about the logic behind the shape of (black) piano keys. I saw an early piano and those keys didn't have the tapered top, but were the same width at the top surface as at the bottom.

I'm now wondering why it's not better to have the full potential surface area of the key to use. Also, they were not angled at the ends, but just straight, so the full length of the key is available.

[indianajo]

Some people have reported having trouble fitting their fingers in between the black keys on the narrow shank of the white key.  So a tapered black key would leave more room for big strong European/African fingers. 
I have slender little Native American hands and fingers, I don't have a bit of trouble playing in the key of C#.  The above report helps me understand the clumsy standard fingering annotations, which don't fit my hand at all. 

[faulty_damper]

The piano was invented when obesity was limited to kings who would have never played any keyboard instrument. It's not the piano's fault people have been getting fatter over the centuries.  As well, the key dip has increased over the centuries as well.  It's now 10mm (3/8") when it was shallower before.  This makes glissandi as well as playing fast scales more difficult.

Some innovations have occurred.  There's a piano with a crescent keyboard shape so it's curved on the ends to allow easier access to the ends of the keyboard.  I forget who makes that piano but it looks like something out of a Jetsons cartoon.

[Bob]

Are fingers getting fatter though?  The tips?


You've got to be able to cross and get between them or have the option/hope of getting between them.  (I don't think I worded that right...)