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Acoustic - was pretty sure but wanted to check.

I've got this picture in my head. Actually I'm doing it: Take a longish object like a soup spoon. Support it with your right finger underneath about 2/3 to the right, like it's the lever of a lopsided teeter totter. Push on the short end with your left finger like pushing a teeter totter. You might get something bouncy going that feels a bit like the squishy keys. --- The keys on an acoustic work through a set of levers. As you start to push down, the weight of the lever underneath is pushing back against you, but at some point you send it flying and that weight disappears. At that point it sends the hammer flying at the string which creates the sound. That let-off point is part ways down.

A digital piano's keys are weighted in a way to mimic this somewhat, but that mechanism isn't there. There are electronic sensors that kick in when the piano key is almost at the bottom, whereas on an acoustic that point is higher up. (I have a DP, and this is one thing I don't like about it.)

There is a difference again between grand pianos and uprights, because the construction of one is vertical, and the other is horizontal, and all of these things work along gravity. (This was explained to me a few months back.)

Found an article that includes an explanation of "aftertouch". Though now I'm confused because it seems to be something found in spinets and some electronic keyboards, but not acoustics with flying hammers. (?)

Wikki article

Aftertouch Link fixed:


Apparently what is sometimes called aftertouch on electronic keyboards is not the same as what is called aftertouch on acoustic pianos. Here is what the article says about electronic keyboards:

This is not a feature available on acoustic pianos, although I think something like it did exist on clavichords, because on a clavichord the tangent stays in contact with the string as long as the key is held down.

The article doesn't seem to say anything about aftertouch on acoustic pianos.

Here is something describing aftertouch on an acoustic piano. I googled "piano aftertouch" (not just "aftertouch") to find this.

Excellent information. Thanks!

Guess that squishy feeling is too much acoustic aftertouch then. Mystery solved!

Hey Paul, how did your lesson go?

Had my second lesson. I'm now learning how to play Heart and Soul so I can duet with my teacher, am learning 3 new scales, and new scale pattern (formation?) and the coolest homework of all, play through my books till I find something I can't sightread!

We both agree the stuff I'm doing is too easy and boring. So experiment with tons of song time.. I love this teacher!

Excellent BeccaBb, I can feel your excitement!