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I debated about whether this belongs here or some other forum, hope I picked correctly.

I bought a '69 M&H 5'8" Model A in January. My tech says it was a good buy and is in very good shape. I only recently noticed this issue because my practice time changed to a time when others in the house are asleep.

I have a tough time playing softly. I get a lot of the thing where the hammer rises but it doesn't hit the strings. I am pretty sure it's me, and not something wrong with the instrument. I sort of think maybe when playing softly, I'm pressing the key more slowly, which changes something so the hammer doesn't make it to the string.

So, have others experienced this? If it's me, what can I do to refine my technique so playing softly is better? Is there some adjustment I should look into when it's tuned next?

I don't think this was obvious before because people were awake when I was playing so I didn't need to try to play everything softly.

Do you hit the key all the way? I mean until the key doesn't go further down?

Yes. But it's sort of weird, the key does go all the way down, and it's a grand, so I can see the hammer. When playing sodftly, it rises, just not far enough.

I think it's that my focus on not striking too hard makes me slow the key press movement down, so there's not enough force.

I just can't quite figure out how to overcome that. I can tell that trying has introduced tension. Tension has always been a problem for me but the effort to play softly has made it more of a problem.

Your letoff adjustment is too early!

Have your tech adjust the letoff to 1/16" (or less if the tech knows what he/she is doing!

You will enjoy the result of this adjustment.

Forrest

Any piano will do this when there is not enough speed generated to propel the hammer into the string; and this type of slow play is not going to relieve tension. Just like throwing a ball, you need to generate energy and follow through. Have you discussed this with a knowledgeable person who can observe your playing?

I use a keyboard for off hour playing. There are many affordable options.

Enjoy

I commented to my teacher, and her only comment was that "playing softly is difficult, and every piano is different." My lessons are on an upright, and I don't notice the problem there.

It does seem like a speed thing, but if the "let off" needs to be adjusted, I can call my RPT. He was just here a few weeks back but at the time I had not started having this problem.

What does the "letoff adjustment" do?

One thing I noticed, is that when pressing a key slowly, when I was trying to figure this out, I feel the keys go down most of the way, then there's a little "bump" when it actually makes the hammer go. I don't notice this when playing, and I assume that's just how the action functions, but I could be wrong.

I'm still thinking it's me, not the piano, but I can't figure out how to overcome it. (Though I could tell family to sleep some other time, ha ha).

The bump you feel is a result of the jack coming off of the knuckle. The knuckle is on the action side of the hammer. This 'coming off of the knuckle' by the jack is what is adjusted when you adjust letoff. That feeling in the fingertips alerts you that you've reached the escapement level, or that part of the process when you no longer have a solid connection with the hammer, because it has 'escaped' from the jack. the escapement level is where you should try and release effort.

At any rate, the reason a letoff adjustment is important (as are all adjustments to the action) is that it allows fine control of the hammer during soft playing. When letoff occurs too early, the hammer is in free fall longer, and attaining a suitable velocity for soft playing is way more tricky, especially when playing into the keys slowly.

I hope this makes sense. It makes sense in Forrest world, but I've learned that Forrest world doesn't always translate.

Of course, there are other reasons your instrument might be loud, but letoff adjustment is critical for soft playing, and it fits your description of how you see your hammers behaving. A Mason and Hamlin A is a fine instrument!

Not only is the letoff distance for each individual key important for fine control, the consistency of where the letoff occurs amongst all the keys is critical for predictability of how the instrument will respond throughout ALL the keys.

Best,

Forrest

One of the most common reasons for playing ghost(non sounding) notes according to the pedagogue Palmer is playing with fingers that are not firm enough. In an attempt to play softly many play with fingers that are not firm and this makes it difficult to control the speed of descent of the key.

I am afraid it's a technique thing indeed. I play quite a lot of ghost notes and it certainly isn't my piano. (I can play the intended volume if I must, and others, more advanced, can play softer than me without hitting ghost notes on it).

Woodog,
That was an excellent explanation! Very clear. Also I see that you live in my old stomping grounds. Go Hilltoppers!

Warm Regards

"playing softly is difficult, and every piano is different." yes.

Every piano has a letoff point. It can be tweaked a bit but it's also dictated by the mechanics. But as your tech says it's in great shape, I suppose there is nothing wrong with the letoff point.

Every piano has a kind of 'softest point'. If you get too close the volume will vary erratically (or drop to 0 in the extreme case). It sounds you are playing below that point.

The volume and amount of range of dynamics also varies over the registers. It's very hard IMHO to play ff in the top registers. I think it has to do with the hammer weights. And maybe the way low and high notes are perceived also differs.

Thanks, Forrest, for a great explanation of what's happening "behind the scenes''!
That is helpful.

I think Pianoloverus may be right in what I'm doing. I'm playing softly, but my fingers shouldn't be so soft.

I think what I'll do is work on my technique -specifically the firmer fingers thing- until the next tuning. If I'm still battling it in five months, when I'm due for tuning, then I'll discuss the letoff with my RPT.

Thanks for all the insight and thoughtful suggestions. This forum is wonderful!!