# "Playing Inside the Keys"--what's that mean? \[Piano\]
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-inside-the-keys-whats-that-mean-piano/722175
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [June 10, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-inside-the-keys-whats-that-mean-piano/722175 "2015-06-10T16:21:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-inside-the-keys-whats-that-mean-piano/722175/1 "2015-06-10T16:21:16Z")
I’ve just seen someone complain about a piano that lacked a double escapement mechanism. One thing that disappointed them about this was that it meant they couldn’t “play inside the keys.”
I’m not seeing that phrase anywhere on the internet.
What is he talking about? Do you know?
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### Author:  [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-inside-the-keys-whats-that-mean-piano/722175/2 "2015-06-10T17:25:12Z")
I could see this referring to being able to quickly repeat a note without letting the key return all the way to the resting position – ie if the range of motion of the key is from “up” to “fully depressed,” it could refer to being able to play a note from “inside” that range of motion of the key. A single-escapement mechanism means the key has to go all the way up before being depressed to sound another note. Double escapement lets you play another note from inside that range…
Basically a WAG.
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### Author:  [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-inside-the-keys-whats-that-mean-piano/722175/3 "2015-06-10T17:26:52Z")
> [@troub](#):
>
> I could see this referring to being able to quickly repeat a note without letting the key return all the way to the resting position – ie if the range of motion of the key is from “up” to “fully depressed,” it could refer to being able to play a note from “inside” that range of motion of the key. A single-escapement mechanism means the key has to go all the way up before being depressed to sound another note. Double escapement lets you play another note from inside that range…
>
> Basically a WAG.
Yep, he has clarified, this is in fact what he meant.
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### Author:  [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-inside-the-keys-whats-that-mean-piano/722175/4 "2015-06-10T17:28:16Z")
Guessing here, but I’m assuming the complaint is that he has to fully release the key in order to repeat a note, which doesn’t allow as fast a repetition. “Play inside the keys” may just mean that he can still play while the key is depressed, sort of “in between the keys”.
ETA: Or what he said.