A piano usually has three pedals. By understanding the characteristics of each and using them, you will be able to produce gorgeous and precise performances.
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damper pedal
The most commonly used pedal is the damper pedal on the right, which releases the damper in conjunction with the movement of the pedal, allowing the sound to continue to resonate.
If you look at the sheet music, you may see marks like the one above. Depress the damper pedal at the left mark and release it at the right mark. Sometimes there is simply a bar line, in which case press the pedal at the beginning of the line and release the pedal at the end of the line.
Timing is very important when using pedals. If you don't press the pedal in the right place, the sound will be muddy and you won't be able to hear it clearly. You can also add depth and color to your performance by adjusting the force with which you press the pedal. Learn how to use the pedals by practicing many times and listening carefully with your own ears.
soft pedal
After the damper pedal, the left soft pedal is the most frequently used pedal. Soft pedals have the effect of reducing the sound.
Depress the soft pedal where it says una corda and release it where it says tre corde.
sostenuto pedal
The sostenuto pedal is in the middle, but it is rarely used in performances. It has the effect of elongating just one note, and is used, for example, when playing a melody while continuing to play a specific note in the bass.
It is designated as pedale sostenuto or ps in sheet music, but it is rarely seen.
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