[pianotech] even touch to test ppp

[Gene Nelson]

***Great advice David,
      Thank you
      Gene

>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
>