Una Corda Pedal Trouble

[pianist7]

On an upright (or spinet) piano, how can you fix the una corda pedal? My doesn't have much effect on the volume and tone of the sound. Is it expensive?

[rick langmaack]

Hi, Are you sure it's an una corda pedal - usually uprights and spinets do not have this type. An una corda pedal shifts the keys (usually to the right) so that the hammers are only hitting some of the strings, thereby making the piano play softer. If you push down the pedal and the keys are not shifting, then this is not an una corda pedal.
Usually on an upright you have the left pedal, which most often moves the hammer rail closer so that they are not traveling as far - and so the volume it softer. (this is usually not extremely noticable). Often times there is a mute rail operated by the middle pedal on an upright.  To operate this, push down the middle pedal and push it to the left (usually, or sometimes just push it down and it will stay down). This will bring the mute rail down.  If this is the pedal you are talking about, and the piano is not playing softer, then the mute rail is not coming down low enough.
Get back to me and let me know exactly which pedal you are describing. To see what the pedal really does, you can open up the top of the piano and watch the effect of the pedal.
thanks - rick
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