The art of pedalling

[waldstein]

Some help on pedalling please

1)I read somewhere that one has to pedal (the damper pedal) just after the note has been played.
 I have been pedalling the last two years "when" the note is played      and not after it.

Which is the correct way?

I tried doing the just after method and it is so hard!! 
What does one do in this method when there is pedalling on staccatos ??

2) When does one use the other pedals ?

[galonia]

It depends on the effect you want to achieve - try pedalling before you play a note, try pedalling after you play a note, and listen to the difference in sound (you should notice that pedalling after a note means that the note is clearer when struck, and the pedal adds colour to the tone afterwards).

So you should always listen and adjust your pedalling to achieve the sound you require.  In fact, that applies to all aspects of playing.

As for the other pedals - the left most pedal is the una corda, and it thins out the tone (the hammers move and hit one string instead of three for each note).

I never use any other pedals (some have a middle pedal, which I've heard called a "practise pedal" because it drops a piece of felt between the hammer and the strings, thus dulling the sound and causing less problems with neighbours if they don't like hearing your practice; other pianos even have a fourth pedal, but I have no idea what that's for).

[Maui]

The middle pedal in Grands is called "Sostenuto" and it's a soft damper.

[xvimbi]

The middle pedal in Grands is called "Sostenuto" and it's a soft damper.

On most pianos nowadays, the middle pedal sustains those notes that are pressed when the pedal is pressed, but not the following ones. Example: play a note, hold it, press the middle pedal, release the note, play more notes. You will notice that the dampers of the first note will stay off until you release the pedal, but the following notes are not affected.

However, the function of the middle pedal can vary between pianos. Simply "playing around" should reveal it.

[Maui]

The middle pedal in Grands is called "Sostenuto" and it's a soft damper.

On most pianos nowadays, the middle pedal sustains those notes that are pressed when the pedal is pressed, but not the following ones. Example: play a note, hold it, press the middle pedal, release the note, play more notes. You will notice that the dampers of the first note will stay off until you release the pedal, but the following notes are not affected.

However, the function of the middle pedal can vary between pianos. Simply "playing around" should reveal it.

Very good to know that, thanks xvimbi

[will]

Try and get your hands on a copy of "The pianist's guide to pedaling " by Joseph Banowetz. It is a great book, very comprehensive. It will no doubt give you the answers you are looking for, as well as many other useful ideas on how to use the pedals.

[rohansahai]

Whatever method of pedalling you use, "The best pedalling is one in which the audience does not realise there is a pedal at all !!"

[maxy]

3 types of pedalling:

melodic:  as you play the note or right after, then you release before the next note/chord.  Both ways can be done: as you play, or right after. 

rhytmic:  as you play the note and you release quickly (pedal).  good for staccati sections or to emphasize specific beats.  basically staccato for foot

vibrato:  no need to explain I hope....  good for chromatic runs that need some *oomph*

these are the basics.

[Floristan]

I generally pedal just after the notes are played to achieve a clean sound, as that is what I'm usually looking for, but it really depends on the effect you think the composer wanted.  I try to keep Chopin very clean, for instance, but with Debussy, for instance, a hazy effect is required, so the pedal sometimes must be held when my instinct would be to clear the sound, but Debussy is pretty good about giving direction in this regard.

Also Debussy is a good example of one of the few places where the true sostenuto pedal (middle pedal on good grands) is useful.  Sometimes Debussy calls for suspending very high and very low octaves, often with the fifth included, while other elements are played.  The suspended notes are to be sustained, but the other elements need to be pedaled for clarity, so the sostenuto pedal permits this particular effect. 

[magnus-y]

There are a couple of books perhaps worth checking out (?)
Banowetz: Pianist' Guide to Pedaling and
Gieseking's Piano Technique

[maxy]

 

Gieseking is a good reference, but I am not sure we should all follow his example.  Playing all the Mozart Sonatas without touching the pedal is quite beyond what ordinary humans should attempt... 

[trucdan]

I have the same problem as Waldstein too:  Confusing about Using the damper pedal when playing a note or after playing a note.  I found it is easier to use the damper pedal at the same time when I play a note.  But I am trying to practice using the pedal after playing the note.  Here are what I've used so far and I hope someone would correct me.

1-  I am using the damper pedal to play some Waltz.

2-  I always hold (depress?) the pedal before playing.

3-  Right after I play the first bass note, I quickly release and depress the pedal again.

4-  This seems to work for me AS LONG AS I don't release my little finger (the left#5) too quick.  If I realease my finger right away after pressing a key then the sound seems like disconnected.

5-  When I use this technique, my foot is kinda sore because I have to depress the pedal most of the time.

Please advice.

Thanks a lot.

Truc