Questions tagged [keyboard-pedals]

For questions pertaining to the use and history of keyboard pedals, including but not limited to the sustain pedal, the sostenuto pedal, and the piano pedal. Please do not use the pedal tag.

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Learning about the sustain pedal modification [closed]

Can a keyboard be damaged later on when you use a homemade sustain pedal on it? Is it necessary to put a resistor in a sustain pedal?
Emmanuel hove's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
150 views

Piano chord fingering and/or pedal use [duplicate]

Although my beginner status doesn't make me eligible to play this particular sheet (part of which I presented here), I found it interesting to analyze the notes written. My question is related to ...
Zoran's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
68 views

Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody 2, unusual markings?

Disclaimer: I'm a musician but not a pianist. My hobby is to study musical scores of other instruments just to learn a little more about them and how they work. I came across some unusual markings for ...
user94152's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
401 views

What is the meaning of these lines

Are these pedal signs? I have never seen one in bach pieces
Diana Bloom's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
790 views

What is the correct way to fade out the end of a piano piece with the sustain pedal?

I am a self-taught piano player which is why I am asking this. When I end a piece I hold the sustain pedal and then gradually lift it to decrease sound until I finally let go. I recently was wondering ...
MeatLoaf93's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
1k views

How to play the "Ped" symbol when there's no corresponding release symbol

I know what this symbol means, but I would like to know if I have to press the pedal as soon as I see the symbol and keep pressing it until I see the another "Ped", and then repeat. I don't ...
maexe's user avatar
  • 113
3 votes
1 answer
82 views

Keyboard Expression Pedal Position

I have a keyboard setup using a keyboard, a sustain pedal and an expression pedal. An image of my keyboard stand is below for reference. I am having trouble finding a good position for the expression ...
flxkrmr's user avatar
  • 31
6 votes
1 answer
625 views

Which two pedals to use for the marking "due pedale"?

In the piano piece "Rumänisches Charakterstück, Op.44" on page 8 there is the marking pp along with "due Pedale". Which two pedals out of the three available are meant to be used ...
MicSim's user avatar
  • 163
1 vote
1 answer
748 views

When should the sustain pedal be used in Debussy's Clair de Lune, given the fast tempo?

In recordings of Clair de Lune, I can hear that the sustain pedal is used almost throughout the entire piece, including in the middle part, which is played at a rather fast tempo. Since the sustain ...
HAL's user avatar
  • 131
0 votes
0 answers
180 views

That middle pedal on piano

Given that the middle pedal, when there is a middle one, has a very different use on each side of the Atlantic - sustain on the left, practice on the right- and it features in some answers on this ...
Tim's user avatar
  • 190k
0 votes
2 answers
116 views

Why is there different Pedaling in different editions of Chopin's op 57?

In seeking the score for this piece, I came across 2 frequent editions: one that shows to use the pedal for half the bar, the other to use 2 bursts of pedal ...
foxrox's user avatar
  • 87
3 votes
2 answers
387 views

Do I need to explicitly cancel the damper pedal when switching to sostenuto?

I'm writing a piece where the beginning and end use the damper pedal only, and the middle uses sostenuto only. Currently these are notated with con ped. and con sost., but I wonder if that might ...
the-baby-is-you's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
394 views

Bought a sustain pedal for my keyboard, notes don't fade out as fast as I expect when I raise the pedal. Deficiency of the pedal or of my playing?

I've been practicing with a keyboard for almost two years now. I bought my keyboard used and it came with a lower quality pedal that I didn't use much. The pedal eventually broke (always sustaining) ...
NeutronStar's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
331 views

Unusual Pedal(?) Marking, Hungarian Dance No.5 Arr. Merle J Isaac

Not too sure what the markings from 77-81 and 83-87 are asking for, my instructor thought some sort of pedal marking but we weren’t really sure what it was specifically asking for, and we don’t have a ...
Nowakbren119's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
640 views

How to notate lack of pedal for a measure?

I'm writing a piano piece, for most of which I would like to use a blanket con pedale instead of marking pedals for each measure. However, at exactly one point, there are two nonconsecutive measures ...
the-baby-is-you's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
608 views

What does the middle pedal on the piano do? [duplicate]

First off, I'm a bit surprised that nobody's asked this before. What does the middle pedal on a grand piano do? I've played around with it a bit, but haven't been able to figure it out. Could somebody ...
Blue Herring's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
676 views

Pedal Notation with a cross or plus sign — is it supposed to be an asterisk?

Can someone help me with this unusual notation for pedal usage. It has P and +P does the +P mean pedal release? See attached photo please. The image is from the first measure Siloti's arrangement of ...
Rnmusik's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
336 views

what piano pedal technique is being used here and does it have a conventional name/notation?

characterized by loud kinda unnatural sounding "stab" followed immediately by a softer sustain. my working theory is that it involves playing a chord staccato then pressing the sustain pedal ...
jaxcheese's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
312 views

Using the Damper Pedal while playing La Campanella [closed]

I can play a little over half of La Campanella (by Liszt) on the piano using the Sostenuto Pedal. I'm using the Sostenuto Pedal because it makes the trills, and the piece in general much easier to ...
sydney_bristow's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
349 views

Ableton Push Start/Stop with a Sustain Pedal

MacBook Pro (Big Sur 11.5.2) Ableton Intro Ableton Push 2 OnStage KSP20 (the sustain pedal) Is there a way to get an Ableton Push 2 to play/stop via a foot pedal? My sister has a gig in a few days and ...
ChristianOConnor's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
879 views

Sustain Pedal connecting Slurs

In this simplified Chopin's Prelude Op. 28 No. 20, the sustain pedal connects notes belonging to two separate slurs in the first and second measures. Should the sustain pedal be left off for a moment ...
Qvantvm's user avatar
  • 159
8 votes
1 answer
457 views

LilyPond: auto horizontal space for piano pedal

Is it possible to tell LilyPond to automatically add extra space for piano pedal symbols, so they don't overlap? If not, how to add the space manually? Here is what I am trying to achieve: This is ...
facetus's user avatar
  • 905
5 votes
1 answer
383 views

When piano pedalling seems to conflict with the original score

This is from Burgmüller's "Harmony of the Angels", Op. 100 No. 21, edited by Ingrid Jacobson Clarfield. I'm wondering about the difference between the green and red blocks. Doesn't the ...
leonbloy's user avatar
  • 1,232
3 votes
2 answers
212 views

Alkan Prelude in A-flat minor Op 31 No 8 - how properly use sostenuto pedal in this piece?

Link to the score This is the first piece I've attempted that calls for sostenuto pedal rather than sustain pedal throughout (assuming I'm interpreting the notation correctly). Other than sempre Ped. ...
markmarz's user avatar
  • 317
4 votes
6 answers
2k views

Reduce pedal noise when recording

When recording my upright piano with a zoom recorder and a dynamic microphone, I find that the noise from the sustain pedal is quite noticeable. I usually don't think of it while playing. Is there a ...
Fredrik Arnerup's user avatar
21 votes
4 answers
11k views

Why does the pedal sign look like “Leo”?

I play piano. I took Trinity College London grade 6 practical and finished my theory course. I still don't understand why the Pedal sign looks like the word “Leo”. Could someone tell me why "Leo&...
MyMor12's user avatar
  • 235
3 votes
4 answers
293 views

When do you end a pedal sustain on a row change?

I am learning the proper way to notate a pedal sustain in music notation, but am not sure about how to mark a transition from one line of music to another. In this hypothetical only example ... ... ...
fsgregs's user avatar
  • 161
5 votes
4 answers
4k views

The proper way to mark sustain pedal for MuseScore playback and live performer?

Thanks in advance for your help here. I am very new to music theory and notation. As such, I may struggle with your reply if it has a lot of musical vocab. I'm using a great free music notation ...
fsgregs's user avatar
  • 161
3 votes
3 answers
337 views

Exact timing of piano pedal re-engagement

In this example, do I release pedal BEFORE beat 1 of the second measure, or ON beat 1 of the second measure?
John's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
267 views

Can a stustain pedal be modified for alternative uses?

Is it possible to modify a MIDI sustain pedal to for example, a guitar pedal? If so, would this be practical at all? If not, what could be an alternative use of such pedal?
AvidListener's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
335 views

Uneven sustain in upright piano

I have a upright piano and its sustain pedal did not work for a long time (you have to press very hard to get a bit of sustain), and the cause is found to be three loose screws that fix the pedal in ...
Joy Jin's user avatar
  • 247
3 votes
0 answers
135 views

Choosing instrument played by midi pedalboard connected to keyboard

I got a 30 note pedalboard (with a 5-pin midi connector) that I want to use with my two keyboards (Yamaha P-155 and Kaway CA13) to play simultaneously on all three. The problem is that when I connect ...
Jelonek's user avatar
  • 31
2 votes
2 answers
362 views

Pedaling in Chopin Nocturne in C# minor, measures 9-18

What is the pedaling going to be for the rest of the below sheet? Is it going to be like measure 8, or it is going to be like measures 1-7? Sometimes it shows the pedal sign like in measure 16, which ...
roro's user avatar
  • 31
4 votes
2 answers
788 views

What does this pedal notation mean for the piano?

I've never seen this pedal notation used before and would appreciate it if someone could help me understand what it means?
hawkymessengerhawk's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
1k views

What is proper pedal posture?

I'd like to learn a song that requires extensive use of the middle pedal, but I have no experience using it. I think I'll just practice until it comes naturally, but I'd like to make sure I'm not ...
The Nuckster's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
3k views

How do I turn on sustain on Casio CT-X9000IN keyboard without a sustain pedal?

Casio CT-X5000 has sustain button but CT-X9000IN does not though both are same keyboard. So how do I turn on sustain on CT-X9000IN without a sustain pedal?
ANURAG BHASKAR's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
170 views

How do you learn pedals?

I'd like to learn Prokofiev's "Montagues and Capulets", but the bass needs some pretty advanced pedaling, and I have not experience with that. I know what the pedals do, but I'm no good at ...
The Nuckster's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
130 views

"il basso una corda" (in Nevin's Narcissus)

This passage from Ethelbert Nevin's Narcissus for piano has the instruction "il basso una corda". I think this is the 1891 Schirmer edition; the passage shown is bars 16-18. What does the ...
James Martin's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
155 views

Computer doesn't receive proper sustain pedal MIDI signals from digital piano? [closed]

When I connect my piano to my computer and press the sustain pedal, it just plays a C note. (Garageband, and Musescore.) I have an Arius YDP-161 digital piano and a MIDI to USB converter. I use a ...
Zara's user avatar
  • 161
3 votes
1 answer
224 views

Pedaling in Prokofiev's "Montagues and Capulets"

I was trying to learn "Montagues and Capulets" and I saw this video of someone playing it. Whats she doing with the base? I think she must be using the pedals, but I ...
The Nuckster's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
1k views

Piano pedaling notation

I have been playing piano for several years, but I never got a particular lesson on pedaling. I know the basics: for most romantic pieces, the point is to clean the pedal (with "clean", I ...
Johnn.27's user avatar
  • 163
2 votes
1 answer
302 views

Grand Piano Cracked Soft Pedal, Possible Missing Parts for Soft and Sustain Pedals

I have a 1912 Symphonic baby grand piano and I noticed two problems. This question is a two-parter: I noticed at the top of the beam for the soft pedal, the wooden piece is cracked. We thought of zip-...
Victor Resnov's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
317 views

What do shorter-than-thirty-two-note MIDI pedalboards bar you from playing?

There have been questions before about what utility can be derived from a two-octave keyboard in terms of learning any keyboard idioms. Well, two five-octave MIDI controllers and a volume pedal seem ...
JohnnyApplesauce's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
345 views

Trouble with piano pedal notation

I'm trying to play this piece, there's no sign to use the sustain pedal in the sheet music, but when I play it and compare it to the original track, I feel that the sustain pedal should be used. I am ...
mohaKH's user avatar
  • 13
0 votes
3 answers
391 views

Yamaha digital piano pedal connector

I know nothing about piano but recently got one (Yamaha PF1500). It came with a stand with two pedal. According to the owner's manual, the sustain and soft pedals are connected to the left and right ...
Omar Shehab's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
410 views

What is the most common highest key with a damper?

On my old Steinway, the lowest key that doesn’t have a damper is the second-highest E. On a Bösendorfer I got to play recently, I noticed that the highest key without one was (I believe) the second-...
Stormblessed's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

Meaning of the words "Recitativo" and "tutte le corde" in music?

I am trying to understand Romantic music. I came across this extract from Beethoven's Piano Sonata op.110 from the Allegro man non troppo part. I want to understand what the words "Recitativo" and "...
Grace's user avatar
  • 1,765
11 votes
2 answers
1k views

Piano Pedal Notation P, Pw, with and without *

I'm transcribing a piano reduction of Suppé's Light Cavalry into MuseScore. This particular score has pedal notation P. *, Pw. *, and then some parts where there's no *. I'm assuming (perhaps ...
Nevin Williams's user avatar
15 votes
4 answers
5k views

On a piano, are the effects of holding notes and the sustain pedal the same for a single chord?

Building from this question, I learned that it is possible to notate a tie that is held by the pedal and not the hands. To me that's a bit strange - if the pedal were not held down in that passage, ...
Michael Stachowsky's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
993 views

How do you play the middle D and F in this passage?

This is from a piano song called "Jane's Song" by Christopher Norton. There are two whole notes that are held for the entire measure, but the left hand is also holding a note way into the bass and ...
Michael Stachowsky's user avatar