Used Pianos for Sale near Me: How Foot Pedals Should Work

The piano is widely considered as the king of musical instruments for many reasons. For instance, piano players not only use both their hands but also their feet when they have to play in completely different clefs.

That’s because pianos generally have three separate foot pedals that can be used when playing the piano using both the hands. Although you may or may not find foot pedals intimidating, you still have to ensure that they are working successfully when you consider buying used pianos for sale near me, especially since you may plan on using them as your skill increases.

In this article, we will discuss all three-foot pedals that are attached at the bottom of the piano, and their unique applications that players can utilize once they have learned how to play with both hands on the piano comfortably.

With this information, you can move closer towards unlocking the mystery around piano pedals. Also, you will be able to answer questions regarding the purposes of each pedal and how to know the right opportunity to use every foot pedal.

Let’s talk about the left pedal first. It is called the Soft Pedal or the Una Corda pedal due to the soft sound that it imparts to the notes that the pianist plays while holding down this pedal in both brand new and cheap pianos for sale near me.

Pressing this pedal allows only one out of the usual three strings to be struck by the hammer every time a key is pressed, which leads to a softer sound. This pedal is used where the words "una corda" are written next to the notes to be plated as instructed in piano music. This pedal is released when the words "tre corda" precede the next notes, which literally means "three cords."

The next pedal we will talk about in the middle pedal, also known as the Sostenuto Pedal. It is an extremely helpful pedal even in used pianos for sale near me that enables the player to sustain only the notes they want to instead of having all the notes sustained.

In other words, the player can hold some bass notes while holding down the Sostenuto Pedal while they play other lyrical chords with the right hand that will play without being sustained. In piano music, the Sostenuto Pedal is denoted by a "*" sign on the right that indicates when you have to use this pedal.

Finally, let’s look at the third pedal, the one on the right that is called the Sustain Pedal. This is the most frequently used pedal among the three, and the one that piano players generally get acquainted with first during their training.

Typically, when notes are played on the keyboard, a set of strings from each note pressed are struck by the hammer, followed by a lowering of the unplayed notes by a damper so that they are not heard. This happens whether you are using a new piano or cheap pianos for sale near me.

Using the sustain pedal changes this - it prevents the dampers from keeping the rest of the notes silent, so the unplayed notes also resonate with the chords that are being played. This brings a greater depth and dimension to the sound that lasts even after playing.

In piano music, it is denoted by "Ped." and the "*" signs as the start and endpoints to use the Sustain Pedal respectively. These three-foot pedals play a big role in enriching the sound that comes out of the piano in their own unique ways, which is why they need to be working excellently in whichever piano they are present.

To check whether they are working properly, sit down at the piano, and experiment a bit with their sounds to see if and how they are affecting the notes that you play. You can also hire a piano technician to determine their working condition for you in case you lack the experience.