Playing Large Stack Chords - Pedalling?

[steve jones]

Hi all,

Started learning Chopin Prelude 20 about a week ago. I want to develop my chord technique so I figured this might be a good one to start with. Not sure who to deal with the pedal though.

Right now, Im doing it like this (for the FF passage at least):

- Play chord
- Press pedal fully
- Hold pedal while changing to next position
- Release pedal
- Play next chord

If I play without the pedal, Im not able to more to the next chord quick enough to make it sound fluent (on some chords more than others).

Is this how the pedalling should be dealt with in such circumstances, or am I going completely wrong?

Cheers

Steve J

[steve jones]

Anyone?

[Ruro]

I see where your coming from, and that is how I would most likely go about doing it. The only exception that comes to mind is a natural echo covering for you.

I have Orbelian's recording of Khachaturian's Piano Concerto, which sounds amazing(!), and realised there was an echo upon every note and chord he struck. Considering the duration of the echo, if you did move your hands reasonably fast enough I doubt you would need the pedal.

Infact, re-reading your method of pedalling, I would change it so slightly to:

- Play chord
- Press pedal fully
- Hold pedal while changing to next position
- Play next chord
- Release pedal

There would be no gap at all, and only holding the pedal a quarter of the notes value longer (approximately), so the second chord isn't covered with the first. No gaps indeed then!

But your preference of course! Hope this was of some use...

[acha114]

You should try to play the chord and press the pedal fully at the same time. At the same time you play the next chord, release the pedal and press the pedal fully in one motion. Use the pedal for each chord (this is something that I don't really do, I tend to pedal every 2 chords).

[steve jones]

Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated.

Yeah, Im just starting to consider how I use the pedal in much greater detail. Previously I just pressed it when I was directed to, but now I am beginning to see uses outside of this. In Prelude 20, pedalling is indicated though.

Dont know if this is just my knackered piano, but I find the tone quite different when I play a note with the pedal pressed (as opposed to just after). This is why Iv been dropping the pedal a fraction of a second after playing - so that it sounds more natural.

But I shall take both posts on board and see if I cant get it sorted. Like I say, the piece is down on a basic level. Now I trying to work on the performance aspects. For example, my PP's are never as even and delicate as I would prefer. And the FF chords at the start dont flow quite right (where the pedal comes in I guess).

Cheers!

Steve Jones