When you imagine someone playing the piano, your first thought is often of their fingers flying over the keys. Less noticed is the careful footwork they are doing below. However, learning to use these three pedals will form a crucial part of your piano lessons, as they help control the length and volume of the musical notes. The guide below explains their role in a little more depth.

Damper Pedal

On the right-most side, you have the damper pedal. It’s the one most commonly used. When pressed, it lifts the dampers inside the instrument, giving the strings more room to vibrate. Be careful not to play too many notes at once as you’re holding down the damper pedal as it can cause the sound to become muddy. However, by pressing it for a few notes at a time, you can create a slight ringing. Take your foot off to clear the sound before touching it again.

Sostenuto Pedal

Located in the middle, the sostenuto pedal lets you sustain a specific note while playing the other notes like normal. The trick is to hold it down at the same time as you press the desired key. 

Una Corda Pedal

The Una Corda pedal, the left-most pedal, helps you create a softer sound during your piano lessons. When you play any of the keys with it down, the hammers hit just one string, instead of the usual three.

If you want to take piano lessons in Anchorage, AK, turn to European Piano School. Iryna Dunaeva has offered classes to children and adults for over 38 years. She uses the same Russian teaching concepts that have produced some of the greatest pianists in the world, including Rachmaninoff and Horowitz. Call (907)-360-2915 to arrange for piano lessons Monday through Saturday. For more information about her services, visit her website.