# key

> individual key on a keyboard musical instrument

**Wikidata**: [Q1117156](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1117156)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_(instrument))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/key-q1117156

## Summary
A key is an individual component of a keyboard musical instrument, such as a piano, organ, or harpsichord. It functions as a mechanical input device that, when pressed by a performer, triggers a mechanism to produce a specific musical note. As a distinct part, it serves as the primary interface between the musician and the instrument's sound-generating system.

## Key Facts
*   **Definition:** An individual key on a keyboard musical instrument.
*   **Parent Classifications:** It is a subclass of "musical instrument part," "mechanical device," and "input device."
*   **Component Of:** It is a fundamental part of a "musical keyboard."
*   **Alternate Names:** Also known as a musical instrument key, piano key, organ key, harpsichord key, or instrument key.
*   **Wikidata ID:** Associated with the Freebase ID `/m/02938b`.
*   **Thesaurus Identifiers:** Listed as ID `300207592` in the Art & Architecture Thesaurus and ID `95533` in the FISH Archaeological Objects Thesaurus.
*   **Encyclopedic Coverage:** Described in "Riemann's Music Dictionary," the "Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary," and the "National Encyclopedia of Uzbekistan."
*   **Differentiation:** It is distinct from the general concept of a "key" (such as a tonal key in music theory or a physical key for locking).

## FAQs
### Q: What exactly is a musical instrument key?
A: It is a physical lever or button on a musical instrument that acts as an input device. Pressing it typically initiates a sound-producing mechanism.

### Q: Is a musical key the same thing?
A: No. While "musical key" refers to a system of notes and pitch classes (e.g., "C Major"), this entity refers to the physical, mechanical component on an instrument like a piano or organ.

### Q: What types of instruments use these keys?
A: These keys are specifically found on keyboard instruments, including pianos, organs, and harpsichords.

## Why It Matters
The musical instrument key is the primary tactile interface for performance on keyboard instruments. Without this component, the translation of human intention into musical sound on devices like pianos and organs would be impossible. Its classification as both a "musical instrument part" and a "mechanical device" highlights its dual role as an aesthetic element of music and a feat of engineering. By acting as an "input device," it bridges the gap between the performer's physical action and the instrument's auditory output. This component is central to the operation of the musical keyboard, a foundational element in Western music history and performance practice.

## Notable For
*   **Primary Interface:** Functions as the essential input device for keyboard instruments.
*   **Mechanical Function:** Acts as a mechanical device that translates physical pressure into sound production.
*   **Component Classification:** Is formally recognized as a distinct subclass of "musical instrument part."
*   **Cross-Cultural Terminology:** Referred to as "Klavish" in Uzbek contexts and "clé d'instrument de musique" in French.

## Body
### Definition and Classification
The entity is defined as an "individual key on a keyboard musical instrument." It is hierarchically structured as a subclass of three primary categories: "musical instrument part," "mechanical device," and "input device" (defined as a peripheral providing data to an information processing system).

### Terminology and Aliases
The component is referred to by various names depending on the specific instrument or context.
*   **Common Aliases:** Musical instrument key, piano key, organ key, harpsichord key.
*   **International Terms:** "clé d'instrument de musique" (French), "Klavish" (Uzbek).

### Structural Relationships
The key is a constituent part of the "musical keyboard" [class]. It is distinct from other entities labeled "key," such as the "key of wind instruments" [class] or the abstract musical concept of a key.

### Documentation and Authority
The entity is documented in multiple authoritative sources:
*   **Art & Architecture Thesaurus:** ID 300207592.
*   **FISH Archaeological Objects Thesaurus:** ID 95533, labeled "Key (Music)."
*   **Encyclopedias:** "Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary" (subject: Klavisha), "Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary," and "Riemann's Music Dictionary."

## References

1. Art & Architecture Thesaurus
2. FISH Archaeological Objects Thesaurus
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013