How to Use the Sostenuto Pedal on a Piano

The sostenuto pedal is the middle pedal on the piano. It is used to sustain certain notes, similarl to the damper or sustain pedal; however, the sostenuto pedal only sustains your selected notes while others can be pressed and released without being affected. This piano pedal is played with your left foot and can be played in conjunction with the damper pedal.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Piano

1. Place your left foot on the middle piano pedal. The ball of your foot should rest on middle pedal and your big toe should be in line with the pedal.
2. Keep your heel on the floor to enable you to press and release the sostenuto pedal when needed.
3. Play a note or chord and keep the keys pressed down.
4. Press the sostenuto pedal with your left foot.
5. Take your hands off the keyboard and the note or chord you played will be sustained.
6. Continue playing your piece of music, and only the specific note or chord you originally pressed will be sustained.
7. Release the sostenuto pedal to end the effect.

Tips & Warnings

• The sostenuto pedal does not achieve the same affect as the damper pedal. It is used for holding a note while others are played when the fingering does not allow for this naturally.
• The damper and soft pedals can be used while the sostenuto pedal is depressed. The trick is to make sure that no pedals are depressed when trying to catch the notes to be sustained by the sostenuto pedal. Once these notes are sustained, the soft and damper pedals can be used without affecting your notes.