Decreasing sensitivity of a touch paddle
add &lt;=10M to gnd on both Vbe
down to 1M.  

Stray hum is needed to create the E field to trigger the transistor so in some conditions 1M may be too low. Your body acts as the antenna. The R shunts the E field picked up by your body. Somehow this triggers your circuit with (Non-retriggerable dit-dahs)

Beware to ground yourself before Mr. Morse's finger burns out your transistor from excess peak inverse Vbe.  a reverse clamp diode protects this greatly but not sure if that affects pulse trigger.