What the Piano Pedals Do

Piano pedals are foot-operated controls beneath the keyboard that change how notes sound or sustain. Many pianos have three pedals, with the following functions.

Right pedal (sustain): This allows notes to continue sounding after the keys are released. It can be pressed before, with or after the notes, with the timing shaping the result. The sustain pedal helps connect passages and enrich their resonance, but must be coordinated carefully to keep the harmony clear. It is often indicated by “Ped.” below the staff and is the most frequently used piano pedal.

Left pedal (soft pedal): This changes the tone and helps produce a softer sound in quiet passages. “Una corda” indicates use of the pedal; “tre corde” indicates its release. Its mechanism differs between grand and upright pianos.

Middle pedal: its function depends on the piano. The two functions discussed here are practice muting and sostenuto.

1. A practice or mute pedal reduces the volume, often for quiet practice.

2. Sostenuto, associated with Steinway’s development of the mechanism, sustains only the notes selected when the pedal is pressed. For example, hold an E, then press the middle pedal: that note continues while other notes can be played without the same sustained effect.

Gülden Şair
Rekor Sanat – Piano Teacher