Pedal Use

[swalter]

What percentage of pedal use do you think players use in general? My best guess is Sustain 85% Damper 13% Sustonato 2%.  Am I way off??  I understand different types of music would lend to varying degrees of usage, but I'm speaking for the average player.

[eddie92099]

I must admit, I use the left pedal far more than average, because I just find the sound can be controlled with much more ease when it is down,
Ed

[liszmaninopin]

Well, unfortunately on my piano two pedals don't work, so I'm forced to use the sostenuto. (I'd swear, I need a new piano!!!!)

When you speak of the average player, take into account the fact that many beginners use way too much pedal-I think in hopes of making a good legato easier, as well as covering up mistakes.  An advanced player probably uses less pedal on average.

[swalter]

Let me refine my question.  Not how much is the pedal(s) used while playing, but between the three pedals, how does their usage break down. For instance, I'm saying that when I choose to use a pedal, 85% of the time its the sustain pedal.

[Chitch]

I don't think I've ever seen a pianist use the middle pedal at a concert, I always thought it was just for practicing at night, lol. Atleast that's what the Asian guy at Walter's told me

[chopiabin]

The middle pedal takes away a lot of tone quality in my opinion.

[zhiliang]

But if i am not wrong, the middle pedal on the grand and on the upright is different. On the upright it should be a practice pedal or so called. But on the grand, it is used to sustain certain note or voices orsomething like that. Correct me if i am wrong.

Zhiliang

[eddie92099]

But if i am not wrong, the middle pedal on the grand and on the upright is different. On the upright it should be a practice pedal or so called. But on the grand, it is used to sustain certain note or voices orsomething like that. Correct me if i am wrong.

That is quite right. The middle pedal on a grand piano will sustain whatever note is depressed at the time, but not any subsequent notes,
Ed