Welcome to LivingPianos.com. I’m Robert Estrin, and today I will show you how to achieve a beautiful singing sound using the pedals. This subtle technique can make a significant difference in your piano playing, transforming percussive note transitions into smooth, lyrical lines.
Establishing a Solid Foundation
First, it’s essential to practice with good fingering and without the pedals. This ensures you can connect musical lines with your fingers before relying on the pedals. A solid foundation is crucial for achieving a coherent performance.
Understanding the Sustain Pedal
The sustain pedal, when depressed, creates an echo quality. To avoid a harsh attack, depress the damper pedal slightly after playing the note. This technique enhances sustain without overwhelming the sound. Watch the video to see this technique demonstrated!
Demonstration:
Without Pedal: Play the note without using the pedal.
With Pedal Before Note: Play the note with the pedal already depressed.
With Pedal After Note: Play the note, then depress the pedal after the attack to create a more balanced sound.
Using the Una Corda Pedal
The una corda (soft) pedal shifts the action, making the hammers strike only two strings, resulting in a warmer tone and softer attack. All three strings vibrate sympathetically, enhancing the sustain.
Demonstration:
Without Soft Pedal: Play the note without using the soft pedal.
With Soft Pedal: Engage the soft pedal before playing the note to hear the difference.
Combining Both Techniques
For a richer tonal palette, combine the soft pedal with the sustain pedal. Play the note with the soft pedal engaged and then depress the sustain pedal after the note’s attack.
Demonstration:
No Pedals: Play the note without any pedals.
Soft Pedal Only: Engage the soft pedal before playing the note.
Sustain Pedal After Note: Depress the sustain pedal after the note’s attack.
Both Pedals: Engage the soft pedal before and the sustain pedal after playing the note.
Experiment and Explore
Experiment with these techniques on your grand piano. Upright pianos may not have the same tonal effects, as their left pedal changes the touch rather than the tone. Many digital pianos also model these physical effects, so try them out to see what you can achieve. By using a combination of pedal techniques, you can craft a musical line with a singing quality, enhancing your overall performance.
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2 thoughts on “How to Achieve a Singing Sound with the Pedals”
Great video! Does the depressing of the pedal slightly after pressing the note also applies at the beginning of a piece, like for instance the C octave in the left hand of Chopin’s Nocturne Op 48/1 (C Minor)? Until I watched your video., I always had the pedal already depressed before playing the octave in the left hand. Thanks Robert!
Yes – there is a different shape to the sound playing the C octave in the left hand at the beginning of Chopin’s C minor Nocturne. You can try it both ways and see which you prefer1