How to use the pedal in Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Ask your questions and get the full-text transcription of this video at: www.virtualsheetmusic.com/exp/moonlight-pedal/ Automatic, accurate, and fast transcriptions by AI-based dadascribe.com: www.dadascribe.com/

[@robertsacks1208]

I've been doing it wrong. Now I can do it right. Thanks. Long live Beethoven.

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Thank you for your input on this video - If you have any questions, please direct your them to our expert with the link in the description - Also, please feel free to check out the other videos that we have posted! Best of luck!

[@oysteinsoreide4323]

Robert Sacks How you pedal a piece is not one way. Because pianos behave differently. Different rooms have more or less damping. And depending on what sounds you want you must change how you pedal it.

[@alakabetz]

Hey I love your videos. You are a great teacher, love the passion and clarity of thought and explanation....

[@virtualsheetmusic]

alakabetz Thank you for your input on this video - Glad you enjoy! You can direct your questions or comments to our expert with the link in the description - Please feel free to check out the other videos that we have posted! Best of luck!

[@nuberiffic]

He seems to be lifting the pedal slightly after the harmony changes, rather than on the beat

[@Meng_Wang]

nuberiffic Yes he said that part wrong

[@etudeando]

It may have an old piano and not good sustain pedal

[@nuberiffic]

@@etudeando what?

[@theend7339]

wow i just started learning this a couple days ago and i find this. awesome, really helpful

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Thank you for your input on this video - If you have any questions, please direct your them to our expert with the link in the description - Also, please feel free to check out the other videos that we have posted! Best of luck!

[@HotmaPasaribu]

Just searching on the KZbin. This is what i'm looking for. Just UP the pedal when chord changing. Thanks for the enligthment, just want to learn Moonlight Sonata in a right way.

[@virtualsheetmusic]

You are most welcome! Be sure to check out all other videos by Robert oN VSM: www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/

[@brenswee681]

3:30 Such a natural reaction! Very funny! Thanks for the video, great instruction.

[@virtualsheetmusic]

I agree with you, that part is very compelling. Be sure to check all other videos by Robert on VSM: www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/

[@baritonebynight]

I haven't played this piece since I was in college. I pulled it out and am getting it back into my fingers. I can't really play it anymore but I'm surprised how much my fingers remember after 20 years!

[@georginapietrini5763]

while I generally agree that the pedal in tonal music should be linked to changes of harmony (at least at a basic use of it), the indication Beethoven himself gives on this particular movement is "senza sordini", which means he wants the pedal to be pressed al the way through. We, however, need to adapt to modern pianos, which have a greater sonority and, because of this, have to be aware not to do too much of pedaling, but all serios musicians and musicologists agree this movement is meant to sound a little blurry. Therefore I do not agree with the changes he is proposing for this particular movement.

[@joelmacinnes2391]

If you don't hold it all the way down it has a better effect

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@joelmacinnes2391 That is why we need to modify Beethoven's Pedal Markings slightly to work better.

[@jordanbradford7729]

I’ve read that half-pedaling on a modern piano creates a decent simulation of the shorter sustain times of the fortepianos used in Beethoven’s day. On my own piano “half-pedaling” is more like “barely-pressing-the-pedal-at-all”; the goal is to position the dampers so that they’re just barely touching the strings.

[@sthubbar]

Robert, thank you.

[@virtualsheetmusic]

You are most welcome!

[@janchatko]

Very useful, thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@sevens1076]

I suppose that this pedal technique with the sustain (right) pedal is the "delayed pedal", where you use the sustain pedal after you've played a note or chord. That would explain why you lift up the sustain pedal on the beat.

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Thank you for your input on this video - If you have any questions, please direct your them to our expert with the link in the description - Also, please feel free to check out the other videos that we have posted! Best of luck!

[@viniciusvbf22]

Wow. First 3 days with my piano. I know this song is *WAY* above my current level (which is zero, BTW), but I wanted to try it anyway. I was thrilled to listen to the first notes of this song that *I* was finally playing. Didn't know how to use the pedal. First notes I did OK, but always keeping the piano keys down. On those first 2 more acute beats I found it impossible to play this way. We only have so many fingers. I was doing something wrong for sure, and I just found out what. :O It's 3 am here but I'm dying to rush to my piano and try to play that part with the pedal now. Thanks! :)

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Keep it up, you are on the right path!

[@mandezadamz4556]

thank you so much for this explanation, but i think it will take some practice of course

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Yes, definitively. But you can do it!

[@JoeHoltPiano]

This was handy while revisiting this piece, love your videos Robert ❤️

[@alv25846]

Thank you very much, i was feeling kind of wierd when i press down the pedal all the way, seen many video of this song none tells about the pedal, so it was everytime i change cords, then up and down the pedal, and not simultaneously with the cords. This is my 1st music i ever truely play on piano, only manage to 1/3 of this music, and today i tried your way of pedal, sounds better, but pretty hard for me, well i know nothing about piano actually, not even notes, CDE..., OR 123. I love this song, thanks to the street piano, i get to learn it.

[@djwhitepeople]

My dude... I bet you hear this a lot, but damn you look and sound a lot like Mark Hamill. Great lesson!

[@shengloongtan229]

Wait, that wasn't Mr Hamil??

[@gunthermathiasbausellapiz5211]

Yeah, it it would have been awesome to be able to get him together with a young Zimmerman (Owi Wan), too much power😂

[@MetaView7]

I just want to let you know your video of 5 years ago is helping me now.

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Fantastic to know that! Have you improved your piano playing?

[@nytid1]

This was very helpfully!!! I been playing it the wrong way this entire time. Now i have to train the right way hahah. Thank you!!

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Thank you for your input on this video - If you have any questions, please direct your them to our expert with the link in the description - Also, please feel free to check out the other videos that we have posted! Best of luck!

[@DiegoRamirez-wm4pl]

At the start of the first movement, Beethoven directs the performer to hold down the sustaining pedal throughout the whole movement, so that the strings are never damped. Above the opening bar, Beethoven instructed “Si deve suonare tutto questo pezzo delicatissimamente e senza sordini” (the entire piece should be played with the greatest delicacy and without mutes), followed by another direction between the staves “semper pp e senza sordini.” “Senza sordini” is an instruction to play “without mutes,” or with the dampers raised off of the strings - or, in other words, with the pedal down. Beethoven must have meant something important by this, since he felt it necessary to give the same instruction twice.

[@yixiangsi2489]

Wait... Did you copy that from an article? I jsut read it a few minutes ago

[@blackcyril]

I heard that from a piano teacher. But of course different piano, different story.

[@GabesHacks]

I had read somewhere (wish I could remember where) that the strings in pianos back then didn't vibrate as long as pianos do now, so you could get away with holding the pedal down for the whole piece. At the end of the day, do what sounds right. If it sounds awful with the pedal held down, then don't. I've played on an electric piano (not a high end one) where it sounds fine with the pedal held down the whole time, but on real pianos, I've found it sounds better doing as he's shown here.

[@christhianpairazamansilva9361]

Thanks man !! You are the best!

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Glad you liked it! Be sure to check out all other videos by Robert on VSM: www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Glad this was helpful! Feel free to check out our other videos as well!

[@tablabeatz5453]

Thanks Robert - excellent video!

[@vishaldube5059]

Thanks, I found this helpful!

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Thank you for your input on this video - If you have any questions, please direct your them to our expert with the link in the description - Also, please feel free to check out the other videos that we have posted! Best of luck!

[@ArdyAryan]

This was awesome , thank you

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@JC-dl1qr]

Finally help me to figure out how to use the pedal. What I have been using was pressing at the first note and keeping it down until the very last note...... so very wrong.

[@virtualsheetmusic]

That's great to know!

[@Charlockle]

Honestly, I've been playing the 'piano' for a few years. Being self taught I never taught myself anything about using the pedals - I just pressed the pedals on my cheapy keyboards when it made it sound nice, and I've gotten into this god-awful habit of always pressing down on the beat, then lifting up, because no-one taught me otherwise. You can sure as hell hear the difference when you play on a regular piano rather than a keyboard or one of my cheap old electric pianos though. :') Now I'm having to re-teach myself how to use pedals.

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Thank you for your input on this video - If you have any questions, please direct your them to our expert with the link in the description - Also, please feel free to check out the other videos that we have posted! Best of luck!

[@aydaghashamshami2046]

Thank you so much sir! Um really grateful for your help :)

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Glad you liked it! Be sure to watch all other videos by Robert on VSM: www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/

[@loligarciacastillejo4769]

Him: fails in playing the pedal wrong Me: *_pathetic_*

[@MisterPathetique]

Well, pedaling is quite simple to approach in this movement "Si deve suonare tutto questo pezzo delicatissimamente e senza sordini" senza sordini It basically means that you have to keep the pedal down through the hole thing. I'm talking in Beethoven's name This movement is clearly not a good choice if you want to discuss the pedal

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Hi there - Thank you for your input on this video - If you have any questions, please direct your them to our expert with the link in the description - Also, please feel free to check out the other videos that we have posted! Best of luck!

[@eduu3666]

Thank you!

[@virtualsheetmusic]

You're welcome! Be sure to check out all other videos by Robert on VSM: www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/

[@mediathug]

You’re great! Thank you again!

[@studyinpink1416]

Thank you for the great video. Very helpful. I would also like to know how to pedal Beethoven's 'Appassionata' Sonata (Opus 57, No 23) in general? Where should I use the damper pedal and una corda pedal? Thank you very much for the great vidoes!

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Hi there - Thank you for your input on this video - If you have any questions, please direct your them to our expert with the link in the description - Also, please feel free to check out the other videos that we have posted! Best of luck!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Because the Damping on our Pianos is more efficient than Beethoven's, we have to Slightly Modify his Pedal Markings (e.g. Pedal on every new Harmony) to get a more appropriate sound.

[@uwuss8418]

THANK you so MUCH

[@LaserStandard]

Thanks :)

[@virtualsheetmusic]

You are very welcome!

[@michel6]

hahaha the "wrong pedal use fail"was very funny!! hahah your reaction was epic ahaha

[@mudkip_btw]

I have a digital piano, and the pedal on it is a little squeaky and just is not at all comfortable. I find myself having trouble with the pedal on the piano at my teacher's which is of good or at least well sufficient quality. Should I consider looking for a better pedal? I feel like it's an issue I can't solve at the moment

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Thank you for your input on this video - If you have any questions, please direct your them to our expert with the link in the description - Also, please feel free to check out the other videos that we have posted! Best of luck!

[@GodzillaGoesGaga]

I had a squeaky pedal on my electric piano. Took it apart, added Vaseline to the hinge area and reassembled. Smooth as butter now !!

[@aditidasadhikary6117]

The pedal comes up exactly at the beat...what do you mean by this...please explain further. Thank you.

[@greenbox5714]

when he hit the chord(beat) he lift his feet from pedal and after hit chord(beat) he hit slightly-gently-softly to pedal

[@detesla9575]

I'm in the process of learning Opus 27 No 2 Moonlight Sonata 1st mov and i got 3 bars left to practise. Somehow, this information would have been super useful to me before i started, but oh well. I'll manage :)

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Next time!

[@detesla9575]

@@virtualsheetmusic I actually just started yanking the pedal to the tones of the sonata. Wasnt as difficult as i'd imagined :)

[@virtualsheetmusic]

@@detesla9575 That's fantastic! That's how improvements start!

[@andrewbay8891]

I was looking for movement 3

[@virtualsheetmusic]

You might be interested in this video instead: www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/soft-moonlight/

[@stopfomo]

Advice from Beethoven : "sempre pianissimo e senza sordini"

[@arvindiyer1649]

I no speak latin

[@joschpz4715]

Hi Mr Robert. I'm looking for an opinion from an expert. I have an spinet piano, as you know that kind of pianos have some sound and tuning issues. I been thinking on remove some strings and leave just 2 strings per note to improve the sound. What do u think about that??

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Thank you for your input on this video - If you have any questions, please direct your them to our expert with the link in the description - Also, please feel free to check out the other videos that we have posted! Best of luck!

[@silviaciobanu5398]

Wait, so the Una Corda pedal needs to be held ALL the time from the beginning to the end of the movement? Also, where do I find the info about it? There's no "ped" symbol or anything for it, right? How do I know I should use the una corda?

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Thank you for your input on this video - If you have any questions, please direct your them to our expert with the link in the description - Also, please feel free to check out the other videos that we have posted! Best of luck!

[@jenpfs12]

Thanks for the video. Are we supposed to play Una corda for the whole piece (1st movement)?

[@virtualsheetmusic]

You are most welcome! Please, post your questions to Robert on this video's dedicated page on VSM: www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/moonlight-pedal/

[@jenpfs12]

@@virtualsheetmusic thanks, I have found this reply in one of your videos.

[@fduncan3662]

I'm in the process of teaching myself this piece just now while my piano teach is off on maternity leave... so do I hold the una corda pedal down for the duration of the piece while lifting the sustain pedal on the beat?

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Yes, I think that's pretty much it. If you'd like to have an answer from Robert, please, post your questions on this video dedicated page below: www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/moonlight-pedal/ Robert doesn't check questions and comments here on KZbin. Thanks.

[@powerequal]

thanks

[@virtualsheetmusic]

+Aaron Dahl Thank you for your input on this video - You can also direct your questions or comments to our expert with the link in the description - Please feel free to check out the other videos that we have posted! Best of luck!

[@lindsaythomson1161]

What about the very start of the 3rd movement...do I use pedal there at all??

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Please, post your comments to Robert on that video dedicated page on VSM, so he can reply to you: www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/moonlight-pedal/

[@jazzmine9673]

It seems that you use the left pedal (first one )beside the third pedal . Can we use this pedal ? Or just the 3rd one is enough ?

[@LogicContradiction]

I have a follow up question. The piece doesn't follow the exact same pattern all the time. How do I use the pedal from bar 32-36, where the melody climbs up and down in different ways. I've tried to hold down the pedal fully but it makes it muddy, and if I don't use it it sounds empyt. Any ideas?

[@greenbox5714]

I just want to know could this implement any other pieces like this not on the beat after slightly

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Thank you for your question, please ask Robert on VSM otherwise he won't be able to answer you: www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/moonlight-pedal/

[@danielma3297]

senza sordini means without the pedal

[@tanishsharma804]

Can u please play it on the c major scale

[@herickdavidmolinaforero9856]

Can you make one of the 3er movement?

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Hello, please refer your questions to Robert's page on our website here so he can answer: www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/moonlight-pedal/

[@spark_6710]

This one was a good video ! The other one of your I just watched regarding the 3rd pedal didn't show the pedal & foot ! Btw.,the tones are still louder than they're supposed to for moonlight sonata was written ,though ! Which almost all pianists tend to do ! I hate that ! Walter Klein was the only one who plaid this piece right as long as I know ! He was the very best on moonlight sonata ! It's pp & p & mp !!! People play as if they were piano notes & mp notes all the way ! No ,no !!!💜🥁🐉🎵🎤🎶🎹💞

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Glad you liked it! Be sure to watch all other videos by Robert on VSM: www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/

[@yurrien8305]

so i press the pedal everytime my left hand changes acord?? 9 so you need to keep your foot down the whole song and coming up whn you left hands changes?

[@ZurihahaGaming511]

but some music sheet doesnt have pedals .. how to know when yo use it..?i dont understand

[@virtualsheetmusic]

That depend by your taste... and what you want to do. All Romantic music can be easily played with the pedal, whereas baroque music is usually played without. If you have more questions for Robert, please, contact him on this videos' dedicated page on VSM, and post your question/comment at the bottom of the page: www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/moonlight-pedal/

[@recordman555]

I know this might sound "unreal", but the first time I ever really sat at a piano, I intuitively knew how and when to pedal. Ive taken lessons since then, but remain 90% self-taught. I can take a chord sheet to almost any piece and "fake" it pretty good. (in-depth theory education) Yea - piano teachers hate me. LOL

[@josecarlosjoaquin6451]

Damn! I've been playing it wrong.

[@michellea8571]

What's the song you play at 1:32?

[@HiHello-rs1ey]

Moonlight sonata mvt1 in chords (simplified)

[@TheScienceForge]

isnt the middle pedal sustenuto one???

[@sambulls]

yea but he said una corda

[@real_Zuramaru]

+Ibr S. Yeah middle is sustenuto, the una corda/soft pedal is the left one.

[@cookiemonster3147]

for me it's not difficult to play it wrong

[@Dannys-mb5xy]

It's the sostenuto pedal that separates the men from the boys.

[@LowIncome_Fat_GingerCase]

Please Can you make this for moonlight sonata 3 monevment?

[@virtualsheetmusic]

Of course he can. Please, post your request on this video's dedicated page on VSM: www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/moonlight-pedal/