What is a proper way to use the sustain pedal?

[codynguyenaz]

When using the sustain pedal, I am lost. I play very advanced music, yet am limited by my poor pedaling methods..

When I use the sustain, should I press the pedal all the way down and go all the way back up?

Currently, I depress it down fully then move my foot up slightly whenever there's a chord, or rapidly do that when there's an arpeggio.

[asiantraveller101]

There is no proper way. *Gasp!* The most basic way is to change completely at each harmonic change, but that is rather elementary. A few suggestions:
1. Develop your ears. Listen to lots of music and discern how "good" pianists do their pedal works.
2. Experiment. Do not fear to experiment. You can even record yourself and listen later to the effects.
3. Read. There are books out there on the art of piano pedaling.
4. Get feed backs; from other musicians and teachers.
Good luck and happy pedaling!

[codynguyenaz]

That was most unhelpful.  There is a right way to use the sustain.  I don't want distortion and I need to know we how far to press down the pedal.

[dima_76557]

When I use the sustain, should I press the pedal all the way down and go all the way back up?

Currently, I depress it down fully then move my foot up slightly whenever there's a chord, or rapidly do that when there's an arpeggio.

Pedaling is a bit more complicated than that and the previous poster is right in saying that you should have someone demonstrate different techniques in different cases, so you can see and hear the result. For starters, I would advise you to go here:
https://www.pianocareer.com/piano-pedal/piano-pedals-art/

[iansinclair]

OK, Cody.  Asian Traveler's remarks are, in essence, completely correct.  There is, in fact, no one right way to use the sustain pedal.  As in most other things with a piano, the "correct" usage in any given place in a composition will depend on the effect that is wanted at that point.

That said, I would add to Asian's remarks that there is a tremendous difference between the sustain pedal on an acoustic piano and the right hand pedal on a digital gizmo.  On a properly adjusted acoustic piano, the sustain pedal will raise all of the dampers the same amount at the same time.  Further, the amount they are raised may be varied by how far the pedal is depressed from just barely clearing the strings to completely clear; the resulting acoustic effect is, as you might expect, rather different.

There are two fundamental uses for the sustain pedal, however: one is to allow notes to continue to sound after you have released the key.  There are many reasons you might want to do this.  The second is to alter the acoustics of the entire instrument: for a properly tuned piano, striking a note with the sustain pedal raised before you strike will also cause the strings associated with all the overtones of that note to vibrate as well, creating a somewhat richer sound (depends on the instrument; you won't hear this on, say, a small spinet or upright, or even a little grand; you most certainly will on a top end concert grand).

However, may I say as a close, if you are as certain as you appear to be that there is a right way to use the sustain pedal, and presumably one right way, would you be so kind as to illuminate the rest of us?

[ade16]

You cannot learn to use the pedals correctly, particularly sustain, without proper lessons. Piano lessons should not just be about finger technique, wrists, arms etc. If you are playing quite advanced music you need to ask your teacher to help you loads with your pedalling. If you don't have a teacher, get one, a good one! You can't learn to drive a car from a book, you need to be shown. Same with piano techniques, including pedalling, thought not so dangerous if you get it wrong!

Most importantly, this is a very complex area. There are several types of pedalling including syncopated pedalling, direct pedalling and half pedalling. I am not even going to attempt to explain here, I demonstrate the differences to my students. Looking and listening to the varied effects is crucial.

With composers like Beethoven for example, pedalling was a special effect to be used sparingly, and he was very specific from the Op.26 sonata onwards with his directions, just as surely as with dynamics and phrasing. By the time we get to Chopin and Schumann for example the pedal is used most of the time and not using it in a particular passage becomes the special effect (e.g. Schumann's 'Carnaval')

Above all, there are always alternative pedallings, but there are very wrong methods too; just like with fingering a passage, there are several valid approaches, but some completely wrong one's also. Sorry I am being a bit vague, but as I say this is an extremely complex area, made more difficult by the acoustics of a room or hall. Actually acoustics make a massive difference, so that what complicates matters even more is that you have to listen very carefully and make subtle adjustments to your pedalling according to the venue as well as the specific piano you are playing.  Also, never use the pedal to cover up muddled playing!

I know this all sounds very complicated, and is probably of no immediate help to you, but this is exactly the point I am trying to make, it is extremely complex and requires loads of practice. I cannot over emphasise how important it is to get proper coaching on the spot. I am not saying you can't pick up hints from reading a book (any good book on piano technique always has a chapter on pedalling) but primarily you need to be shown. (Same with learning golf swings or tennis shots; you won't get very far just by exclusively reading the books!)

[j_menz]

That was most unhelpful.  There is a right way to use the sustain.  I don't want distortion and I need to know we how far to press down the pedal.

Cody, your question assumes something that is simply not the case. There are lots of things you can do with the pedal and you should consider what others have said here very seriously indeed. How far you press down on the pedal depends entirely in the effect you want to achieve at that point. Your question is, in essence, just as silly as asking how loud you should play the keys and expecting a one size fits all answer.

You cannot learn to use the pedals correctly, particularly sustain, without proper lessons.

Rubbish. You just need to experiment and learn to use your ears. I'm not saying lessons are useless, just that they are neither necessary nor sufficient.

[ade16]

Rubbish. You just need to experiment and learn to use your ears. I'm not saying lessons are useless, just that they are neither necessary nor sufficient.

There is nothing wrong with experimentation, however, I disagree. I still think that you need to be shown first. Pedalling is more than just lifting the pedal before a change of harmony. There are a lot more complex and subtle uses than that. I never said it was not important to listen, indeed I did mention this in relation to adjusting to different acoustics. I have played in many different venues, both solo and with an orchestra. Of course I listen, very intently! Also, experimenting is extremely important. I just mean that in the poster's case they probably need to be shown rather than have it explained in words. They clearly haven't even got the basics yet, but are attempting advanced pieces. This is plain nonsense!

[gvans]

Dima's link is a good one. Ilinca is a wonderful teacher. If I had a teacher like her...wow. I'd take lessons daily, and twice on Sundays. Rubenstein's quote is there, too: "The pedal is the soul of the piano." To repeat:

https://www.pianocareer.com/piano-pedal/piano-pedals-art/

I might also second the comments above, stating the auditorium you perform in makes a big difference. Wet halls require less pedal, dry ones more.