How to Use the Sustain Pedal on a Piano

The modern piano has three pedals. The sustain pedal, or the damper pedal, is the piano pedal on the right and is the most commonly used of the three. It is used to connect notes together to create a legato sound when fingering is difficult. To correctly play the sustain pedal, you must have your foot in the proper position and learn when to push and release the piano pedal.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Piano

1. Place your right foot on the rightmost pedal on the piano. The ball of your foot, in line with your big toe, should be resting on the pedal at all times.

2. Keep your right heel on the floor. This position allows you to easily press and release the pedal when needed.

3. Play a note on the keyboard, and simultaneously press the sustain pedal with your right foot.

4. Take your finger off the note, but keep your foot on the pedal. You will continue to hear the note playing after taking your hand away. The pedal takes the damper hammers off the strings and lets the strings continue to vibrate after you've finished playing.

5. Press another key on the keyboard and release the sustain pedal at the same time. If you have done this properly, you will have smoothly transitioned from your first note to your second without a break in the music and without two tones resonating at the same time.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice your pedal timing by playing your piece of music slowly, at first, one hand at a time. If you release the pedal too soon, you will hear a break in the music, but if you hold it too long, your piece will start to sound messy.
• If a composer wants you to use the sustain, or damper pedal, there will be a horizontal line with two short vertical lines on either end written below the staff. The placement of this line indicates when you should press and release the pedal.