Fractional Pedaling - What Does It Mean & How Do I Utilize It For Special Effects In My Performance?

[@ST52655]

When I was selling my beloved Yamaha studio grand piano, a woman who had come to look at it asked me if she could play it. Of course I said yes because I had owned the piano from the time it was brand new (for 45 years) and had kept it in excellent condition. She pedaled badly, proceeded to tell me there was something wrong with the pedals, and decided not to buy it. The next person to look at it was a piano teacher who had actually been searching for the exact piano I was selling. He played it, the pedals made absolutely no noise (because like me, he knew how to pedal), and he bought it on the spot. He paid my asking price, no questions asked, and later sent me some pictures of his young students playing it. ❤ Knowing that my piano went to a person who would truly use, enjoy and care for it made me feel so much better about having to sell it. The piano was a gift from my father on my 16th birthday, so it had a lot of sentimental value. Anyway, please keep teaching people how to use the pedals, because it does matter. Thanks 😊

[@ayyboi4298]

For fellow pianist your type of videos and teachings really help one another!

[@lvb1770]

Fractional pedaling in Chopin's Op.10 No.1 etude changed everything for me. Flutter pedaling is also useful. As Vlado said, "Pedal with your ears not your feet. He studied with Ravel.

[@ST52655]

💯

[@PianoMan333]

I really like that you're often covering these small, detailed "niche" topics. Thanks for that!

[@melodytsai7133]

Thanks for all your useful tips.I really like this topic and I hope you can do another record that we can see clearly. What I mean is to set the different camera view to see how "Pedal " and "Damper " lift works together. And how these effect the sound. Thanks for your wonderful heart to share.

[@Bronwyn031]

Of the last 5 or 6 videos I've tried to watch on Half Pedaling YOU are the only one who explained it QUICK, CONCISE and with examples. 🦄💖 And I subscribed too 😊

[@bourdour]

Thank you for sharing. Im working on scalic passages in Chopin's Ballade 1 and this is helpful

[@magicalmysterypiano8144]

I have never thought over how I use the pedal, I do it automatically...but after this video I will pay more attention to how I do it. Pedaling is actually is a rather important element in piano playing, it can make the playing beautiful or to spoil it. Was very useful, Thank you, Josh!

[@rrickymaa]

Oh love sorrow!! I always wanted you to play this piece with your immaculate technique! I’d love I hear it !

[@kowalskianalysis1710]

Very helpful! Just finished learning Debussy's arabesque and there is a section in the middle and a different one at the end that I struggle to keep between muddy and staccato. I will try this technique

[@lastdreamofhome]

This is really useful - I was trying out Ravel's Ondine for the first time today so it was a surprise when you used it as the example! Really enjoying your videos! :)

[@TheNetzspannung]

Clear, concise and well-meaning. Excellent explanation.

[@sasoonhaikazian4093]

I actually just discovered this two days ago when I was practicing on my own piano but great vid!

[@cggage]

Very helpful! I had always wondered what was meant by this. You explained it very well!

[@aquilazyy1125]

As an amateur pianist I stumbled upon this technique and it really created some wonderful effects, but I always have thought it’s just a unorthodox trick that shouldn’t be used until I see this video. Thank you!

[@kcuehto]

Your videos are all great, but what I am really hoping for is to see you on "Living the Classical Life", since you have said you are friends with Zsolt Bognar. I would love to learn more of you as a person.

[@musicfan3609]

YES PLEASE!!!

[@JoanKSX]

Like vlog? Great =D

[@paytonspiegel]

Can't wait for that liebesleid. You said it was this summer your gonna be playing that?

[@Jules-ce3hs]

Hello Josh, thanks for this video. It would be interesting to have a video on the soft pedal!!

[@cyba9774]

This is really helpful. I need to improve my pedaling

[@petermcmurray2807]

An Excellent description. I only heard of half pedalling this week and can see now how it can help in my broken chord and arpeggio practice. Thank you

[@MF-hf2re]

That's a gorgeous thumbnail and an even better video! Very helpful as always

[@zachsaw78]

Wow! Didn't even know this is a thing! As always, you're an amazing teacher!

[@peterthomas3405]

What an excellent demonstration and plainly spoken explanation of a subject many would shroud in mystery. Thank you, Josh!

[@shotglassanhero]

Great video, I never knew of this concept and was taught that I should always use full pedal when playing. Maybe I haven’t played a piece with fractional pedaling yet...

[@kathysaleeba3397]

Thank you. New piano student. I was wondering about fractional pedaling vs. full pest. I'm not quite ready for a lot of pedal use yet but it does answer my question. Enjoy your videos.

[@katam6471]

This was really helpful. Thanks a lot!

[@carmenl9280]

Thanks Josh. This is really helpful. Some pianists consider pedaling a minor detail, but it can really ruin a piece if it is not used correctly. It would be great if you could provide some guidance about how to use pedal in Mozart, or Bach.

[@allmyinterests5139]

I just want you to know: Thank you so much for everything!

[@mabdub]

The mechanical aspect of pedal connections on acoustic upright pianos is different than on grand pianos so fractional or flutter pedaling on some upright pianos isn't always possible. Flutter pedaling using electric keyboards is also often not possible. Of course, there are exceptions for both acoustic uprights and electric or digital pianos. Clearly, the advantages of having a grand piano to practice on and experiment with are significant.

[@tenonakin9237]

I use Formula One racing shoes for piano-pedaling.

[@johnb6723]

Lol.

[@pedrohenricograzziotinport8217]

Great video!! You're amazing Josh

[@MaxRiley]

thank you Josh. you remind me of the actor in "Novecento"

[@anoNEMOs]

I've been using this at the end of one piece and didn't even know it has a name. And what is more interesting, I do it on an electric piano (clavinova)

[@ThePianoPutterer]

Very interesting concept I've never heard verbalized before. You helped me realize it's something I've always done instinctually. Thank you!

[@ST52655]

Same with me

[@jakobwk4474]

The ball of the foot, in other words: the area just behind the toes.Organists are taught to use the ball of the foot.

[@frazzledude]

It should be pointed out that fractional pedaling only works if the felt in the piano’s dampers is not packed down and hard. Many serious piano owners will have their technician tune their piano, regulate the action, and voice the hammers but not do anything to the hard packed dampers. You should also mention that by using the sostenuto pedal in combination with the damper pedal it is possible to get two different gradations of sustain at the same time. By using both pedals at the same time it is possible to get some very interesting effects on a piano.

[@JoanKSX]

Thanks for sharing =O

[@ST52655]

💯

[@Starritt_Piano]

I’m interested to hear any thoughts from pianists … do you think of the sustain pedal as an expression pedal as well in which you press it down to certain levels to get different harmonic resonances and layerings? Leon Fleischer apparently said you can get 24 different tonal shadings from the sustain pedal-I was amazed!!!

[@eddygonzalez2328]

I would like to say that wearing shoes when using the pedal doesn't affect much what part of the foot you use. I'm always wearing shoes and it really doesn't matter what I'm doing with my toes.😂. Joke aside, I never press the pedal all the way down, more like half pedals and I tend to slightly press the una corda at the same time.I find that it gives me a clean sound without those overtones.

[@downpatmusic]

I think it was Debussy who said the magic is in the pedal. Or another way to think about it, the reverb amount is controlling the pedal.

[@7HPDH]

I’d recommend putting something about an inch high under the pedal so you’ll have an easier time finding the sweet spot (for learning purposes)

[@JoanKSX]

But how? Like putting an inch cushion?

[@7HPDH]

@@JoanKSX a small hardcover book could work. I have an external hard drive that happens to be the right size

[@JoanKSX]

@@7HPDH Oh, thank you! =D

[@RaptorT1V]

5:33 what is the name of piece? What was the name of the piece you played? ♪ I didn't hear it ♪

[@audybee9610]

Would have loved to see your foot on the pedal. I understand. It's about hearing the sounds produced.

[@holytaco.]

Yes, I think it would help. Odd, since if I remember correctly he usually has a pedal view.

[@ollyhudson9931]

Hi there Josh, which composer do you mention & what piece are you playing @ 2:56 please? Pleasespleaseithankyouiloveyoubye😁🎶✌️

[@dyanicus2156]

Maurice Ravel - Gaspard de la nuit, I: Ondine

[@JamesZ32100]

It's Ravel's Ondine

[@ollyhudson9931]

Hey, thanks guys. 😁✌️

[@BabyMeows]

Thank you for the great video! I hope the camera is pointed to your foot instead.

[@LASoundCrafter]

Many pianos can’t do it, or elicit some ugly overtones - your excellent Steinway D was OK, your technician probably helped shape and seated the dampers. I use it in, your example, Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit, but I used it in the Toccata in Le Tombeau de Couperin - the piece is percussive, but too dry with no pedal on all those repeated notes and too heavy with full pedal. Ravel and Debussy are filled with half pedal.

[@JoanKSX]

Wow thanks for sharing the info =O

[@rogerharrison8195]

Hi, I haven’t found any advice on how to keep my arms, hands, and ELBOWS completely parallel or at least in line. But I find this impossible as my hands come within closer to my body. Somehow my elbow needs pulling in. I end up splaying my wrists to get the notes for my fingers to be properly in the keys. Any advice

[@rrickymaa]

Video was great of course but when I’m in my phone the audio of the keys it sounds like it’s like distorted or feels like it’s too loud like it’s too close to the mic

[@cisium1184]

Half-pedal is a bit like the tension point on a clutch pedal.

[@crehenge2386]

what about the other 2pedals?

[@tpiano1165]

And some people say piano is all about the fingers...

[@JoanKSX]

No. I personally thinks the hardest part of the piano aren't hands together, jumping octaves/notes, polyrhythms, poly-phrasing but pedaling... I really suck in the pedaling >.

[@providief]

do you play in socks for the concert?

[@Zimzamzoom95]

yes

[@JoanKSX]

0:52 - 0:58 I don't hear anything, the noise made by only toe pressing pedal...

[@metteholm4833]

Ah! The grand, I have access to, is SQUEAKY and noisy... perhaps because of my abrupt "toe-handling" Lets see, if I can do it less squeaky-noisy now.

[@manueladevilliers5301]

😁