diff --git a/client/public/version.js b/client/public/version.js
index ec8a531..4a848ff 100644
--- a/client/public/version.js
+++ b/client/public/version.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // Maintainer-controlled web client version.
 // Format: YYYY.MM.DD Rn (example: 2026.02.20 R2)
-window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.25 R229";
+window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.25 R230";
 // Optional display timezone for timestamps. Falls back to America/Detroit if unset/invalid.
 window.CHGRID_TIME_ZONE = "America/Detroit";
diff --git a/client/src/audio/pianoSynth.ts b/client/src/audio/pianoSynth.ts
index 9ded5d3..b45c300 100644
--- a/client/src/audio/pianoSynth.ts
+++ b/client/src/audio/pianoSynth.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,22 @@ export const PIANO_INSTRUMENT_OPTIONS = [
 
 export type PianoInstrumentId = (typeof PIANO_INSTRUMENT_OPTIONS)[number];
 
+/** Returns whether a runtime string is one of the supported piano instrument ids. */
+export function isPianoInstrumentId(value: string): value is PianoInstrumentId {
+  return (
+    value === 'piano' ||
+    value === 'electric_piano' ||
+    value === 'guitar' ||
+    value === 'organ' ||
+    value === 'bass' ||
+    value === 'violin' ||
+    value === 'synth_lead' ||
+    value === 'brass' ||
+    value === 'nintendo' ||
+    value === 'drum_kit'
+  );
+}
+
 type VoiceRuntime = {
   gain: GainNode;
   panner: StereoPannerNode | null;
diff --git a/client/src/items/types/piano/runtime.ts b/client/src/items/types/piano/runtime.ts
index 2720586..deafb62 100644
--- a/client/src/items/types/piano/runtime.ts
+++ b/client/src/items/types/piano/runtime.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 import {
   DEFAULT_PIANO_SETTINGS_BY_INSTRUMENT,
-  PIANO_INSTRUMENT_OPTIONS,
   PianoSynth,
+  isPianoInstrumentId,
   type PianoInstrumentId,
 } from '../../../audio/pianoSynth';
 import { type IncomingMessage, type OutgoingMessage } from '../../../network/protocol';
 import { type GameMode, type WorldItem } from '../../../state/gameState';
+import { getItemPropertyOptionValues } from '../../itemRegistry';
 
 const PIANO_WHITE_KEY_MIDI_BY_CODE: Record<string, number> = {
   KeyA: 60,
@@ -321,8 +322,9 @@ export class PianoController {
     if (code.startsWith('Digit')) {
       const digit = Number(code.slice(5));
       const instrumentIndex = digit === 0 ? 9 : digit - 1;
-      if (Number.isInteger(instrumentIndex) && instrumentIndex >= 0 && instrumentIndex < PIANO_INSTRUMENT_OPTIONS.length) {
-        const instrument = PIANO_INSTRUMENT_OPTIONS[instrumentIndex];
+      const shortcutInstruments = this.getShortcutInstruments();
+      if (Number.isInteger(instrumentIndex) && instrumentIndex >= 0 && instrumentIndex < shortcutInstruments.length) {
+        const instrument = shortcutInstruments[instrumentIndex];
         if (instrument) {
           const defaults = DEFAULT_PIANO_SETTINGS_BY_INSTRUMENT[instrument];
           const voiceMode = this.defaultsVoiceModeForInstrument(instrument);
@@ -646,18 +648,24 @@ export class PianoController {
 
   private normalizePianoInstrument(value: unknown): PianoInstrumentId {
     const raw = String(value ?? 'piano').trim().toLowerCase();
-    if (raw === 'electric_piano') return 'electric_piano';
-    if (raw === 'guitar') return 'guitar';
-    if (raw === 'organ') return 'organ';
-    if (raw === 'bass') return 'bass';
-    if (raw === 'violin') return 'violin';
-    if (raw === 'synth_lead') return 'synth_lead';
-    if (raw === 'brass') return 'brass';
-    if (raw === 'nintendo') return 'nintendo';
-    if (raw === 'drum_kit') return 'drum_kit';
+    if (isPianoInstrumentId(raw)) return raw;
     return 'piano';
   }
 
+  private getShortcutInstruments(): PianoInstrumentId[] {
+    const options = getItemPropertyOptionValues('piano', 'instrument') ?? [];
+    const normalized: PianoInstrumentId[] = [];
+    const seen = new Set<string>();
+    for (const option of options) {
+      const raw = option.trim().toLowerCase();
+      if (!isPianoInstrumentId(raw) || seen.has(raw)) continue;
+      seen.add(raw);
+      normalized.push(raw);
+      if (normalized.length >= 10) break;
+    }
+    return normalized;
+  }
+
   private getPianoMidiForCode(code: string): number | null {
     if (code in PIANO_WHITE_KEY_MIDI_BY_CODE) {
       return PIANO_WHITE_KEY_MIDI_BY_CODE[code]!;