When To Use the Piano Pedal

When you start learning piano, one of the important things to learn is when to use the piano pedal. It's one thing to know how to use the pedals, but when is another matter.

Here we'll be talking about when to use both the quiet pedal and the damper or sustain pedal.

Video Lesson: When To Use Piano Pedals

When To Use the Damper / Sustain Pedal

When To Use Pedal with Classical or Sheet Music

Using the pedal with classical or written sheet music can be somewhat straight forward.

With classical music, the general rule is to use the pedal in music from the Romantic Era onwards. Basically around the 1800s on. Music written by Beethoven is sometimes used with pedal and sometimes not.

You use the pedal with slow, lyrical songs and those intended to have notes joined together.

You don't want to use the pedal here:

staccato notes (very short)
detached notes or styles

Some music will tell you when to use the pedal, like in the markings above. Others won't and you need to use your ears and change pedal when needed. (You can learn more on how to use the pedal here.)

When To Use Pedal with Chords

Now when it comes down to when to use the piano pedal while playing chords, you can really use it most of the time.

Don't use if you're playing rhythmic, short, detached rhythms and melodies.

Do use it to play nearly everything else. It can work for slow and fast songs and why it works so well here is that it really helps the transition between chords.

You're not limited here to replicating how something was written to be played or performed, like in classical music. You can use the pedal whenever you want. It's up to your discretion here.

When To Use the Quiet Pedal

Use a quiet pedal in written music when the dynamic markings say "pp" (pianissimo) or "ppp".

It allows you to get extremely quiet, more so than you would be physically able to.

This is done by holding down the quiet pedal when indicated and lifting it once you get to piano ("p") and louder dynamic markings.

You usually find these dynamic markings in classical or written sheet music and you can use the quiet pedal when you see that.

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More pages that might help:

What Are The 3 Piano Pedals For? (Explainer)
Wondering what the 3 piano pedals are for? Here is a quick explainer that will let you know what they are for and when to use them.
How Many Pedals Does A Piano Have (& What Do They Do?)
Pianos and keyboards come in all different shapes & sizes so you may question how many pedals does a piano have. Here's your answer plus what they're for.
How To Use Piano Pedals (Tutorial on Damper, Sustain & Quiet Pedals)
How to use piano pedals including the damper pedal, sustain pedal and quiet pedal.