In case you use a different term for this technique, I should say that finger pedaling is where you hold down notes in the accompaniment which are not indicated in the score to partially simulate the effect of the sustain pedal but without actually pressing down the sustain or sostenuto pedal.
Finger Pedaling or sustaining notes is an advanced technique that originated from the piano. You can see from the diagram it's represented notionally by placing two of the same identical notes side by side. With one being a quarter note and the other being the same note of another time value.
The sounds available to you when you play are not limited to what you do with your hands. Piano pedals (the levers at your feet) enrich the sound in various ways, opening out possibilities further than the keyboard, from subtle nuances in dynamic to bold changes in the tone.
Piano pedals are foot-operated levers at the base of a piano that change the instrument's sound in various ways. Modern pianos usually have three pedals, from left to right, the soft pedal (or una corda), the sostenuto pedal, and the sustaining pedal (or damper pedal).
It's a way to hold out a long note or piano chord while your hands are busy playing other notes. On some upright pianos, the center pedal lowers a piece of felt or cloth between the hammers and the strings to make the sound very soft and muffled.
Finger Pedalling in Bach and the Classical composers
What is the most important pedal on a piano?
Pianos, keyboards, and digital pianos can have one to three-foot pedals that perform various musical functions. The most important pedal is the Sustain or Damper pedal, usually found on the furthest right on acoustic instruments, and the only one for single pedal keyboards.
For mechanical pianos, and simulated on some digital piano pedals, it is possible to press down the sustain pedal only partially such that the dampers just touch the strings very slightly. This technique for the advanced pianist is called half pedaling and allows a fine variation of the sound.
The vast majority of piano music doesn't call for the use of the middle (sostenuto) pedal. Even music that utilizes the middle pedal doesn't absolutely require it. You will be able to perform the music fine without the middle pedal.
How do you know when to press the pedal on the piano?
The short answer is you should hold down the pedal whenever you want your notes to sustain, and release it whenever you want them to stop. To learn when the notes SHOULD sustain, your suspicion about the Ped. and * symbols are correct: 'Ped.
It is called the practice pedal, the practice mute or the “celeste”. The purpose on this middle pedal is to reduce the volume of the piano by sandwiching a thin layer of felt between the hammers and the strings.
Professional and amatuer pianists will most definitely use the right pedal, which is used for sustain. The left pedal is the next most often used, and is used to make notes softer.
What is the difference between peddling and Pedalling?
Pedal is a noun referring to any of various levers activated by the foot. Peddle is a verb related to traveling around and selling goods. Petal, pedal, and peddle are three words that sound very much alike and so can be easily confused.
🔗 A pedal point is a note that is held through changing harmonies, starting as a chord tone before becoming a non-chord tone. Pedal points are often in the bass voice (the term “pedal” relates to the foot pedals on an organ 1 ).
verb (used without object),ped·aled, ped·al·ing or (especially British) ped·alled, ped·al·ling. to work or use the pedals, as in playing an organ or propelling a bicycle.
Should Beginners Use the Pedal on the Piano? The short answer is no, beginners should not spend time using the pedal, at least for several months. This isn't an issue for young children, as their feet rarely reach the pedals, but adults can easily fall into the trap of relying on the pedal.
Well, when you are starting out playing keyboard or digital piano, pedals are not going to be the priority. Most beginners will be very pleased to learn that playing the piano does not depend on the pedals. What you are doing with your hands will normally be exactly the same.
Upright pianos sometimes have a third pedal known as the celeste or muffler pedal which moves a thin piece of felt between the hammers and the strings in order to soften and quieten the sound.
The one on the right is the damper lift pedal or the "loud pedal" and the one on the left is the "una corda" or soft pedal. The dampers are blocks of felt that normally sit on the piano strings to stop them from making noise. In music it is just as important to stop the sound as it is to start it.
If you only have two pedals in total on your piano, as many uprights do, the right will be the sustain pedal and the left will be the una corda pedal. These other two pedals are not used as often as the sustain pedal, yet they can add so much more colour, variety and texture to our playing.
The sustain pedal, also known as the damper pedal, is the most frequently used pedal on a piano. Positioned on the right side, this pedal is typically operated with the right foot. When you press down on the sustain pedal, it lifts the dampers from the strings, allowing the piano notes to resonate freely.
On upright pianos, the middle pedal is usually the practice pedal, moving a piece of felt between the hammers and strings to produce a muted sound, perfect for keeping the piano quiet and not disturbing others.
This doesn't change tone, but it does change the touch of the piano making it harder to play loud because it lessens the momentum of the strike of the hammers. This is what the fourth pedal does on Stuart & Sons pianos.
While it's common to see professional pianists watch their hands as they play, some of them will also close their eyes at times so they can better concentrate on the sound of the music.
