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Home » Easy explanation of the role and usage of piano pedals

Easy-to-understand explanation of the role and usage of piano pedals

Update date: October 12, 2018

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When you first start playing the piano, you tend to focus on the keyboard and forget about the pedals at your feet.

Even if you look at piano textbooks, there aren't many that provide detailed information about pedals.

This time, we will explain the names and roles of piano pedals.

 

 

 

table of contents

  • damper pedal
  • Shift pedal (soft pedal)
    • grand piano shift pedal
    • upright piano soft pedal
  • Sostenuto pedal (muffler pedal)
    • grand piano sostenuto pedal
    • upright piano muffler pedal
  • How to pedal
    • ① Adjust the position where you can place your right foot parallel to the pedal.
    • ②Put your heels firmly on the ground
    • ③ Raise your feet slightly
    • ④Pedal straight using the ball of your foot
    • ⑤Slowly release the pedal
  • How to get your child to pedal

damper pedal

The pedal on the right side is called damper pedal

This pedal moves a part called a damper inside the piano. The damper is a thin cushion attached to the metal strings inside the piano. When you press a piano key, a damper, an individual cushion attached to that key, rises, causing the strings to vibrate and produce sound. When you take your fingers off the keyboard, the sound stops because the damper pushes the strings again, stopping them from vibrating.

When you press the damper pedal with your foot, all dampers are forced up, and the sound continues even when you remove your fingers from the keyboard .

By using a damper pedal to mix and reverberate sounds, you can create beautiful resonance.

However, if there is too much sound at once, the sound may become muddy and make listening uncomfortable. Therefore, when you press the damper pedal, you only need to hold down a few notes at a time to complete the tone. Before moving on to the next phrase, raise your foot and lower the damper to stop and clear the note.

Open the lid of your own piano, look inside, and try pressing and releasing the damper pedal.

I think you can clearly understand how the damper mechanism works.

 

 

 

Shift pedal (soft pedal)

The left pedal is called shift pedal (soft pedal)

In fact, grand pianos and upright pianos have slightly different names. On a grand piano, it is called a "shift pedal", and on an upright piano, it is called a "soft pedal". Since their roles are slightly different, I will explain each one separately.

 

grand piano shift pedal

makes the piano sound a little softer

When you press the shift pedal, the hammer that makes the strings resonate is shifted slightly to the right (toward the treble side) .

Many people may not know this, but there are three strings that are played on a piano keyboard. By pressing the shift pedal and pressing a key, you can reduce the number of strings.

If you are not used to it, you may not be able to tell the difference. Take a look at the "do" in the middle and compare the differences.

 

upright piano soft pedal

The soft pedal on an upright piano weakens (softens) the sound

While the soft pedal is pressed, the initial position of the hammer that makes the strings resonate can be moved closer to the strings. That way the hammer can't hit the string too hard.

In other words, even if you press the keys hard, it will be difficult to produce strong sounds.

You can use the soft pedal when you want to make the piano a little quieter, when playing as accompaniment to a song, or when practicing early in the morning.

 

 

 

Sostenuto pedal (muffler pedal)

The middle pedal is called the sostenuto pedal (muffler pedal)

Like the pedal on the left, this pedal has different names for grand pianos and upright pianos. For grand pianos, it is called the "sostenuto pedal," and for upright pianos, it is called the "muffler pedal." Unlike the shift pedal, this one has a completely different role and usage.

 

grand piano sostenuto pedal

The sostenuto pedal allows you to extend only a specific note

It allows you to extend the sound of the keyboard when you step on it, but the difference from a damper pedal is that it only affects a specific sound.

A damper pedal has an effect even if you press it before pressing a key, but a sonutate pedal has its effect when you press it while a key is being pressed

Unlike a damper pedal, you can choose the sound you want to extend, so you can play in a variety of ways depending on your purpose. For example, by using a sonutate pedal on the root note of an arpeggio, you can add depth to the arpeggio.

 

upright piano muffler pedal

The muffler pedal significantly reduces the overall sound of the piano.

"Muffler" has the same meaning as the thing you put on your car's exhaust port, and means muffler It's not a collar.

 

By pressing the muffler pedal, the cloth gets caught between the piano strings and the hammer . This allows you to dramatically reduce the sound of the piano.

Naturally, the sound disappears quickly, so it is unlikely to be used in a real performance.

Basically, the muffler pedal is designed so that it can be locked by sliding to the left after stepping on it.

 

By using it according to your environment, such as when you can't make much noise, you can practice without disturbing those around you.

 

 

 

How to pedal

We will explain the steps to properly press the foot pedal.

 

① Adjust the position where you can place your right foot parallel to the pedal.

Just like the accelerator and brake pedals in a car, placing your feet parallel to the pedals makes it easier to apply force.

 

②Put your heels firmly on the ground

By placing your heel on the ground, it becomes a fulcrum and allows you to apply force more evenly to the pedal.

If your heel lifts off the ground, it will be difficult to time your release from the pedal.

 

③ Raise your feet slightly

Raise your feet slightly to apply even pressure on the pedals.

If you try to press the pedals using only your body weight, you may lose your balance and have a negative effect on your hands when playing the keyboard.

Until you get used to it, be conscious and let it float a little before stepping on it.

 

④Pedal straight using the ball of your foot

The part that applies pressure to the pedals is not the tips of your toes or the arch of your foot, but the round part at the base of your big toe called the thenar ball.

At this time, be careful not to pedal too quickly or apply too much force.

Release the pedal after pressing it. If you apply too much force, it will be difficult to release your feet and you will not be able to move quickly.

 

⑤Slowly release the pedal

If you release the pedal too quickly, the vibrations may be transmitted to the strings, causing unintended sounds.

No matter how fast the tempo of the song, try to release it slowly.

 

 

 

How to get your child to pedal

Young children cannot reach the pedals with their feet, and if they try to force the pedals, they will lose their balance and be unable to play the keys properly.

If your child can't put their feet on the ground, we recommend placing their feet on a support stand instead of having them practice songs that require them to press the pedals.

Since your muscles are still immature, it's best to focus on your hands that play the keyboard first and improve them.

 

If you really want your child to practice a song that requires them to press the pedals, an auxiliary pedal is useful.

Piano auxiliary pedal, piano auxiliary stand, lightweight type, stepless screw type height/lower, performance aid for children's beginners
JAZ
  • Amazon
  • Rakuten
  • Yahoo Shopping

Auxiliary pedals are often expensive (probably because there isn't much demand for them, to be honest), but they can serve as a substitute for good pedals.

Some pianos may or may not be suitable for your piano, so be sure to choose the shape and size carefully when purchasing.


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