Use of "The pedal on the left"

[Xelles]

Yes, let's keep the vocab simple for now. Anyway, for those who don't know this is the pedal that makes the keys easier to press (does that sound too newbie-like?). Is there a "right" time to use this mysterious pedal? Can it be applied without criticism like "Ohhh, so you can't pull off the pp dynamic huh? Loser", etc.?

[DarkWind]

Actually, many times it is indicated by a composer to use the left pedal. It will say usually "Una Corda" or U.C. For example, in the opening part of Gaspard De La Nuit's third movement, Scarbo, the first and following measures require you to use this pedal, with the message "sourdine" or soft pedal. Also called sordino.

[Xelles]

- To add insult to injury, the question was answered by a "YaBB" Newbie". Sigh...


























Hey thanks! btw

[DarkWind]

LoL, don't worry, not everyone knows this. Anyways, just cause I'm a newbie doesn't make me a terrible naive pianist, does it?

[donjuan]

That's right Isaiah, give DarkWind a break.  He/She helped me download music off the internet.  He/She is a computer genius!!...
anyway, about the una corda pedal.  It should not be used to make the sound softer.  I use it when I want no accents by accident, or in tender passages involving a hypnotic atmosphere.  Think about Beethoven's Moonlight sonata (1st mov).  anyone who uses the pedal simply to make the sound softer is lazy and will be critisized.  A soft sound and an una corda sound are not the same thing.    

[faulty_damper]

On the first movement, I start off with it depressed and over the fisrt two bars, I gradually let off it and barely use it after that.  Use of it softens the "crash" of the first notes in the first bar.

But that pedal shifts the hammers over so it only strikes one or two strings for a subdued sound.  It sounds muted instead of soft.

[Antnee]

Isn't it the dmaper pedal that makes the keys easier to press...............Or am  i just retarted... :-/

-Tony-

[donjuan]

Isn't it the dmaper pedal that makes the keys easier to press...............Or am  i just retarted... :-/

-Tony-

hi RondoAllaTony,

U are only retarded for spelling "retarded" wrong, but nothing else.  If you have an upright, it may actually feel that way.  The left pedal on an upright acts as a "half blow", moving the hammers closer to the strings, possibly making you think it makes the keys easier to press....on a grand, the left pedal is an "una corda" pedal, shifting the whole keybed over a bit so the hammers only strike one string of a given pitch.  It will not, however change the way the keyboard feels.
best wishes
donjuan

[Dave_2004_G]

It's often marked on the music when it's supposed to be used, and I think that most pro pianists only really use it when marked, but I went to see Andras Schiff not long ago and he was using it all the time

Dave

[Xelles]

"retarted" !

[Antnee]

Whoooooopssss!!!!!!!  

How ironic is that?

Guess I should watch my spelling next time...

Don't want to look stoopid....

-Tony-

[zhiliang]

The so called "Left Pedal" is used for changing to tonal colours. Never use it to achieve ppp in your playing.

Take for example, playing fortissimo but using the "Left Pedal" can enable the sound to sound different from a normal fortissimo, it can even sound like an echo from a distance.

Use your ear to help guide you on where to use the "left pedal". It can be really marvellous in providing many different tonal shadings with the different combination of using it with the sustaining pedal and the dynamics of your playing.

Regards,

Zhiliang

[RGPianoMusic]

the left pedal, also known as the "unicorda" pedal can be used when one wants a softer, more mellow tone while playing (P) or a more mellow (f) sound.  Most pianist don't use the unicorda pedal enough, especially in the more forte sections of a piece.  Using the left pedal in a forte section will allow you to save some of your more "bright" moments for a later time in the piece.  it adds colour to both piano and forte sounds.  Forgive me if this answer was given already.  I got lazy and didn't read any of the follow-ups.  take care

Rich

[bearuo]

On a grand piano, the left pedal shifts the hammers slightly resulting in a more mellow sound.  The mellowness does not arise because fewer strings are hit by the hammer, but rather because the strings are hit by the "fuzzier" less used surface of the hammers.  On a piano with brand new hammers where no grooves due to impact with the strings are yet visible, the sound produced when the left pedal is depressed is softer, but no different from when the pedal is not pressed.  The left pedal is not merely a "soft" pedal, but rather a means for "voicing" the hammers as one plays.

[DarkWind]

Was Isaiah banned?