How It Works

A Keyboard That Fits You.

DreamPlay's DS Standardardized Keyboards come in different sizes to match your biology.

📏

Find Your Zone

Your hand span (thumb to pinky)

8.0 in / 20.3 cm

Small (6 in) Average (8 in) Large (10 in)

Hand span measurement diagram showing thumb to pinky tip

How to measure

Spread your hand wide. Measure from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pinky.

Your match

Zone B

Hand span range: 7.6 to 8.5 inches

DS6.0

Recommended model

Balanced spacing for moderate hands. You gain more reach and control than on a standard layout while keeping a familiar feel under your fingers.

✓

Reach capability

Up to 10 notes comfortably

Unlock Your Potential

Matching your hand size to the correct keyboard unlocks greater comfort, accuracy, and musical expression.

Zone A Players

Petite Hands / DS5.5 Standard

Conventional (DS6.5) 8 Notes

DS5.5 Model 10 Notes

Zone B Players

Average Hands / DS6.0 Standard

Conventional (DS6.5) 9 Notes

DS6.0 Model 10 Notes

Comfort

Reduced strain and tension while playing complex pieces.

Accuracy

Significant improvement in reach and playability.

Expression

More musical expression with less physical limitation.

The Hidden Barrier

87%

of females

Have hand spans smaller than the 8.5 inch minimum that standard keyboards expect.

87%

Too small

Comfortable

24%

of males

Also fall below the comfortable reach threshold for a standard 6.5 inch keyboard.

24%

Too small

Comfortable

8.5"

The threshold

Minimum hand span needed to play a conventional 6.5 inch keyboard from Yamaha or Steinway with real comfort.

25 to 30%

Larger reach required

Hand span often needs to be at least one quarter larger than the octave just to reach 8ths, 9ths, and 10ths without strain.

Published Research

Decades of peer reviewed research explain why standard keyboards hold most pianists back.

Hand size and performance related injuries

Applied Ergonomics, 2021

Pianists with smaller hands show reduced muscular effort and lower perceived strain when they move to 5.5 inch octave keyboards instead of standard size.

Read full study

Gender differences and career impact

Susan Tomes

Studies note that internationally acclaimed women pianists tend to have larger hands, which aligns with a repertoire that often expects very wide reaches.

Read article

Benefits of ergonomically scaled keyboards

Survey of reduced size users

Players report relief from pain, faster technical progress, and greater comfort when they move to keyboards that match their hand span.

Read full study

Performance quality improvements

PASK findings

Shorter reaches and reduced wrist travel on compatible keyboards are linked to better control and lower risk of overuse injuries.

Learn more

Academic recognition

The Donison Steinbuhler standard appears in research and teaching at leading institutions.

Stanford University

Research and advocacy around scaled keyboards in music education and injury prevention.

Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute

Use of alternative sizes inside curriculum and performance programs.

Ready to experience the difference?

Reserve Now → Learn More About The DS Standard