Softness on a grand piano?

Question

I recently got a Pearl River Baby Grand and it is much harder to play soft than it was with my old upright. When i play songs requiring me to play at piano or pianissimo i ghost notes which forces me to play louder than i should. Does it just take practice to acquire better dynamics on a grand piano?-

Answer 1

Why not use the "sostenuto" pedal which softens the overall sound of the piano?

Good luck!

Answer 2

Your piano should allow you to play the softest softs. It could be that the keys need some lubricating to make them less heavy (easier to press down), the escapement may be too tight. Ask your piano tuner to check it, tell him you can't play a pianissimo.

If you have that fixed, and you still can't play a pp, then it's your arm tension, you are likely still learning to control your drop into the key for a pp. If you have to ghost the softs, you are likely holding excess tension in your arm and hand and need to relax your wrist and forearms while maintaining a firm fingertip touch.

One way of getting a pp is to sink into the notes SLOWER, using arm weight. I often drop my elbow into the note, works every time, even a ppp.

Another way to get pp or ppp is to sit at your piano and explore the tones, see if you can listen for 27 kinds of soft! Your ears also need to attune to quietness and then your brain and your hands can reproduce it.

Best wishes!

Answer 3

I think it just takes some practice... but I know EXACTLY what you mean.

My old upright from my great grandpa (made in like 1897),

is easier to play, and I think personally, Sounds better than those grand pianos.