Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Uprights and repeating

I am having a problem with my upright piano which I think has some worn out springs. I can't play rapid repeated notes using the famous circular finger motion (the technique in which you alternate fingers for the same repeated note). Is the problem largely caused by my upright, or is there something about that method that I don't understand? I'm having troubles with many of Liszt's pieces including the repeated C sharps in his HR2's friska, and the repeated notes in one of the variations in his La Campanella. And unfortunately, I don't have access to other pianos at this time.

Any thoughts on the subject?

Thank you

Uprights generally have more problems with fast repeated notes. On a grand, gravity pulls the hammer back down very quickly, not so on an upright where a mechanism is needed. That's why you can't repeat quite as quickly on an upright as on a grand.

Well said, mrenaud.

Virtuoso_18: Have you just started playing on an upright piano? Were you used to playing on a Grand?

You have to be aware that on a grand piano you can repeat notes even when the key is only half-way up. On an upright you must let the note go all the way to the top before you repeat.

This is why you use different techniques on uprights and grands, especially when repeating notes.

An upright will repeat fast enough for most people if it is properly regulated. If you have never had anything done to your piano other than tuning, ask a tech about regulation.

I have been playing on the same upright since I started. But this is the first time I take on pieces with such rapid repeated notes. I've taken some pieces in the past which contain some relatively slow and/or steccatto repated notes.

And yes the only type of maintenance i've done to my piano has been tuning, I'll talk to a tech about regulation and see what happens.

Thank you.