Piano Sustain Pedal Tips

Video Transcript

"In this section I'm going to talk about how to use the "sustain" pedal. The sustain pedal is the pedal on the right, right over here. Now the way you do it is you play first (playing), and then you put your pedal down, ok? And you don't want to hold that pedal down for the whole piece (playing), because it will start to get "muddy" - all the notes will start... I mean in a way it's pretty, but if it goes on for minutes and minutes it's a big "mud" of music. Poop, right? So what you've got to is you play a little bit... (playing) I'm pressing my foot down on the sustain pedal. I play for a little bit, and when it comes to another little "section" or a little beat, I'm going to lift it up and play again. (demonstrating) And I'm lifting, and I'm lifting... And notice how my heel is always on the ground; it's just my toe that lifts up. You want to get it so it sounds fluid."