damper pedal
techniquesDAM-per PED-ul
The right pedal on a piano that lifts all dampers, allowing strings to vibrate freely.
The damper pedal is the rightmost of the piano's pedals. When pressed, it lifts all the dampers off the strings simultaneously, allowing every note played to sustain and resonate with the other strings. This creates a richer, more blended sound.
Proper pedal technique is essential to piano playing. Beginners often use too much damper pedal, creating a muddy blur of sound. Advanced pianists use partial pedaling, half-pedaling, and flutter-pedaling to achieve subtle gradations of resonance. Chopin and Debussy's music is particularly dependent on skilled pedal use for its characteristic sonorities.