What Do Pedals Really Do?
The Footnotes of Piano Playing: What Pedals Really Do
Piano pedals are often overlooked by beginners, but they play a crucial role in shaping a pianist’s sound. Let’s break down what each of the three standard pedals does—and how their functions differ between grand and upright pianos.
The Right Pedal: Sustain Magic
This is the pedal you probably already know—and love.
Step on it, and all the dampers lift off the strings, letting them ring even after you lift your fingers. It creates that lush, flowing sound pianists live for.
Pro tip: Don't hold it down forever. Change chords? Change the pedal. Otherwise, everything turns to mush.
The Left Pedal: Soft Spoken
The soft pedal isn’t just about volume—it can color your tone, too.
On a grand piano, pressing this pedal nudges the keyboard slightly to the side. That makes the hammers hit fewer strings (usually two instead of three). Result? Softer, subtler, slightly different sound.
On an upright, the hammers just move closer to the strings, shortening the travel. It’s quieter, but the tone doesn’t shift much. Think of it more as a “volume dip” than a color change.
The Middle Pedal: Choose Your Adventure
This one’s tricky because it doesn’t always do the same thing.
On a grand, it’s a sostenuto pedal—it holds only the notes you’re pressing when you hit it. Handy for sustaining bass notes while your hands are busy elsewhere.
On most uprights, it’s not a sostenuto at all. Instead, it’s a practice pedal—drop a felt strip between hammers and strings, and voilà: super-quiet playing. Ideal for quiet-night sessions.
Pedals should support your technique—not hide your mistakes.
The sustain pedal connects and colors your phrases.
The soft pedal brings down the dynamics or creates a gentler mood.
The sostenuto (if you’ve got it) adds complexity and control.
The key is to listen. Use your ears. If it sounds too blurry, lift your foot.
Wrap-Up: Use Your Feet, Free Your Sound
Though operated by your feet, piano pedals are essential to expressive playing. They shape dynamics, tone, and atmosphere. Knowing how each pedal works—especially the differences between grands and uprights—lets you use them intentionally and musically.
Master them, and your piano will truly sing.
