Look under a piano and you will find pedals that most beginners barely touch. Yet for pianists, pedals are part of the sound itself: they can blur notes into a warm wash, soften a passage to a whisper or hold a bass note while the hands move on. Knowing what each pedal does, and when to use it, is one of the quickest ways to make your playing sound more musical. Here is a clear guide to the pedals on a standard piano and how to start using them well.
How many pedals does a piano have?
Most modern pianos have three pedals. Reading from left to right, they are the soft pedal, the sostenuto pedal and the sustain pedal. Some pianos, especially uprights, work a little differently from grand pianos, and many digital pianos and keyboards come with only one pedal, the sustain. So the first step is knowing what your own instrument offers.
| Pedal (left to right) | Common name | Main effect |
|---|---|---|
| Left | Soft pedal (una corda) | Makes the sound quieter and slightly mellower |
| Middle | Sostenuto pedal | Holds only the notes that were already pressed when the pedal went down |
| Right | Sustain pedal (damper pedal) | Lets all notes ring until the pedal is released |
The sustain pedal: the one you will use most
Every piano string has a felt damper that rests on it and stops it from vibrating when you release the key. Pressing the right pedal lifts all the dampers at once, so the strings keep vibrating after you let go of the keys. The notes blend together, and the sound becomes fuller and more resonant. Strings you are not playing can also vibrate in sympathy with the ones you play, adding richness to the tone.
The sustain pedal is useful for connecting notes smoothly when your fingers cannot reach, for holding a bass note while the hands play a melody above it and for adding warmth to slow, lyrical passages. Used without care, however, it can turn a clear passage into a muddy blur.
Legato pedaling: the technique to learn first
The most common way to change harmony cleanly is called legato pedaling, sometimes known as syncopated pedaling. The idea is to change the pedal right after playing a new note or chord, not at the same instant. Follow these steps:
- Play the first chord and press the pedal down.
- When the harmony changes, play the new chord.
- Immediately after striking it, lift the pedal and press it down again quickly.
- Repeat for each new chord.
Because the old sound is cleared just as the new one begins, the notes stay connected without the harmonies blending into each other. It feels awkward at first, so practice slowly, listening carefully to the moment of the change.
The soft pedal
The left pedal, often called una corda, makes the piano sound quieter and a little more veiled. On a grand piano, it shifts the action slightly so that the hammers strike fewer strings. On many upright pianos, it works differently, by moving the hammers closer to the strings so they travel a shorter distance. The result on both is a softer sound, although the tone color can differ.
It is best used for color and not only for volume. If you simply need to play more quietly, you can usually control that with your fingers. Composers sometimes mark the soft pedal specifically when they want a delicate, intimate quality.
The sostenuto pedal
The middle pedal is the least known. It holds only the notes that are being pressed at the moment you press the pedal, while the notes you play afterwards are not sustained. This lets a pianist hold a low note or chord while playing other notes in a short, detached way.
It is mainly found on grand pianos. On many uprights, the middle pedal has a different job, such as lowering the volume for practice, so do not assume it behaves like the sostenuto on a grand. Beginners can safely ignore it for a long time.
Common beginner mistakes
- Holding the pedal down too long: different chords pile up and the music turns muddy. Change it whenever the harmony changes.
- Stomping instead of controlling: the foot should move smoothly, with the heel resting on the floor.
- Using it to hide mistakes: pedal should enhance clean playing, not cover missed notes.
- Pedaling everything: some music, especially quick, light passages, sounds better with little or no pedal.
- Not listening: the ear is the best guide. If it sounds blurred, release earlier.
Half pedaling
The sustain pedal does not have to be fully down or fully up. Pressing it only partway lets the dampers touch the strings lightly, which softens the blur while keeping some resonance. This technique, called half pedaling, is common in more advanced playing and takes time to master. On digital pianos with pedals that detect pressure, you can experiment with it too.
Practice tips
- Practice pedal changes on simple chord progressions before adding them to a piece.
- Play a passage with and without pedal and listen to the difference.
- Follow the pedal markings in the score, but trust your ears, since the room and the instrument affect the result.
- Keep your foot relaxed and the heel on the floor for control.
Conclusion
Pedals turn a piano from a collection of notes into an instrument with atmosphere and shape. Start with the sustain pedal, learn clean legato changes, and add the other pedals as your music asks for them. If you want to build your piano skills step by step, from reading music to technique and expression, take a look at the piano courses available on Cursa.
