[pianotech] even touch to test ppp

[David Love]

I meant to add, don't underestimate the importance of damper regulation in
the touch dynamics at the ppp level.  Small variations in damper timing or
damper weight can seriously influence the touch especially at that level.
Best to test both with the damper pedal engaged and not.  

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com


-----Original Message-----
From: David Love [mailto:davidlovepianos at comcast.net] 
Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 6:09 PM
To: 'pianotech at ptg.org'
Subject: RE: [pianotech] even touch to test ppp

Even if you don't "play" the piano, developing piano touch is important.
Not only for testing the responsiveness of the action as you mention but for
voicing as well.  You have to work at it and it should be part of your skill
set.  Forget chromatic scales, they are the most difficult.  Play pentatonic
scales or white note and black note scales to remove the differences
inherent in the touch between those two and alternating to cover all the
notes and create some greater sense of musicality to the sequence.  If you
are not a pianist, or even if you are, one finger scales are the most
predictable and repeatable.  Use a relaxed arm and wrist and support the
back of whichever finger you like to use with your thumb to keep it from
flexing randomly at the joint.  Play slightly toward the pads, not directly
on the tips of the fingers.  Other than that, all you can do is regulate
carefully, balance the actions as you have using graduated strike weights
and uniform balance weights and pay close attention to friction.  Most of
the time, that will get you home safely.  

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Gene Nelson
Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 5:25 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] even touch to test ppp

Just curious if anyone does more than rely on their hands to judge how 
evenly the entire piano responds at the softest possible playing.
In an action that is well regulated and balanced with friction +/- 0.5g from

key to key and hammer strike weights evenly graduated using a Stanwood 
curve - I do not have confidence in my touch while playing chromatic scales 
to judge ppp playing evenness. Sometimes a key will not hit the string and 
it is not consistent, it will vary across the piano so I blame my lack of 
even touch.
I used Spurlock gram weights, set on key ends (like when measuring down 
weight) and let it free fall in a controlled manner, adding or taking away 
weight to zero in on a number that could mean something, like how many grams

to get the hammer to contact the string.  One gram less gets no sound. Did 
this with and without sustain pedal.
Suprised to find discrepancies of up to 6 grams and the discrepancies stay 
about the same with or without the sustain pedal.
Any opinions here - am I splitting hairs? Does the above sound like a valid 
test?
Also, I am a bit puzzled about how to account for the discrepancies. As all 
pinning and key frictions are very close, it could only be a mass thing?
Any thoughts on this.
Gene