Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Piano too loud in apartment. Dampening tips?

Hey all, this is my first post but I've read here for a few weeks.

I live in a (cheaply constructed) apartment, and have the piano in a small room with hard floors. I know my neighbors can hear me practicing, and though I've already worked out with the neighbors below what times I will and won't practice, I still feel bad about it. It must drive them crazy when I'm practicing the same piece or phrase over and over every day.

My piano's an old "spinet" style from the '50s, so it doesn't have a true una corda pedal, but instead a "half-blow" pedal. If I keep this depressed while practicing, the volume is about right, but of course it makes the key action kind of weird (there's no resistance at all until you've depressed the key about half way) and I really think this is going to have a negative effect on my playing and dynamics control.

Because moving or buying a new piano isn't an option for me right now, is there anything else one can do to reduce the volume of a piano while practicing? (I already have a blue foam mattress between the piano and the wall...)

I found the webpage for this product (http://www.pppkeys.com/) which seems to just be a piece of felt you hang between the wires and hammers. Does something like this really work? $100 looks a bit steep for it, but if so maybe it'd be possible to make one myself.

Or... other options?

This may be anathema, but I would think that a decent digital (~ USD 600) with headphones would solve the problem and almost certainly sound better than what you've got. I understand if you're not looking to spend that much, or if you've just got to have an acoustic, but there it is. Good luck!

A large braided rug would decouple the piano from the floor. They sometimes show up at flea markets.

You may want to ask a piano tech how much it would be to make or jury-rig a "mute rail" for it. The product you mention is exactly such a thing. I use that function on my piano when I am practicing later in the evening, when I know people may be in the room next to me. You could also hang a moving pad behind your piano if it's on or near a wall/corner.

HERE IS THE SOLUTION:

the piano's sound travels across the floor through the legs... not through the air.

isolate the legs from the floor and your neighbours WILL NOT HEAR YOU..

you can do this by creating an isolated platform with rubber underneath.

send me some money.

the mute (or "celeste") rail that pppkeys sells certainly would work very effectively at reducing the volume a great deal, though the tone does become somewhat - well, muffled might be too strong a word but certainly less singing. possibly still preferable to the trade off of having an electric keyboard if that's not your thing.

it's hard to quantify but to give you some idea, if i use the celeste rail and the soft pedal on my piano together i can play at a level that's almost inaudible even from my stool let alone a neighbour's apartment!

I know that there is a manufacturer that produces cups that can be placed under your piano that will isolate the piano and minimize the sound that is transferred. They were recommended on the forum once a few months ago, but I cant remember what the link was.....

sorry I can be more helpful.

M

"there is a manufacturer that produces cups that can be placed under your piano that will isolate the piano and minimize the sound that is transferred. They were recommended on the forum once a few months ago, but I cant remember what the link was....."

Piattino

Carpet with a good underlayment will also help you, especially with the downstairs neighbors.

Ahh... you beat me to it Clef,

I was just doing a search....
Here was the forum
Casters

and here is somewhere you can buy them
http://www.pianofortesupply.com/piattino1.html

Cheers

Marcus

Wow those piattino casters look pretty good, but maybe a little out of my price range.

I have seen some supply websites where you can but celeste rail felt. Perhaps I should try buying some of that and trying to make my own.

Check flea markets and Craigslist for braided rugs.

I think you may be surprized at how little sound travels thru walls.. it depends on the walls of course. you might have someone play it while you check it from different spots. There was a guy who used big teddy bears to absorb some sound.

BTW,

Does anyone know how much the Piattino casters sell for?

M

You can pack pieces of acoustical foam against the soundboard to really quiet the piano. Does an amazing job. Not so fun for you, though, because the tone is affected a lot. However, it really works. You can buy studio foam from a place like this: http://www.soundprooffoam.com/ and then stuff the pieces between the braces and against the soundboard in the back of the piano. The foam needs to touch the soundboard to lessen the vibration. That will be much more effective than the mattress you have between the piano and the wall.

Attach fabric to the sides and across the bottom of the back of the upright. Add foam pellets or other to the space between the fabric and the soundboard until desired sound level is reached.
There is a website that describes this process which sells the materials needed. Don't have time to search for it at present.

Hello CHAS,

You've stumbled across a 10 year old thread.

Oh my! An old Apple post just above. I totally verklempt!