What do the pedals on a piano do? | Cunningham Piano Company, Philadelphia, King of Prussia, PA

Learn more about pianos at www.cunninghampiano.com/blogs...
Pianos, keyboards and digital pianos can have one to three foot pedals that perform various musical functions. The most important pedal is the Damper or Sustain pedal, usually found on the furthest right on acoustic instruments, and the only one for single pedal keyboards. The Damper/Sustain pedal controls how long the notes can be heard after playing them. The second most important pedal is the Soft pedal, otherwise known as the Una Corda. This controls how soft the piano sounds, and is usually the pedal furthest to the left on acoustic pianos. The third pedal - usually the middle one - varies in function, depending on the type of piano. On grand pianos, the middle pedal is known as a Sostenuto pedal. This pedal only holds notes that have been "locked" with the fingers, keeping the other notes free to be controlled by the other pedals or with the fingers alone. On upright pianos, the middle pedal is usually the practice pedal, moving a piece of felt between the hammers and strings to produce a muted sound, perfect for keeping the piano quiet and not disturbing others. For more information on pianos, visit Cunningham Piano Company's website at cunninghampiano.com

[@adriant1988]

Left is clutch, center is brake, and right is gas.

[@user-zw5xp3bf5y]

Bruh😂

[@e.conboy4286]

Varoooom! 🚗 🚙

[@LlednarHugh]

The only correct answer.

[@midigenz]

Haha

[@escape0707]

Unironically accurate lol.

[@brook2724]

If you press all three at once, it opens the task manager.

[@shawnlaw8309]

Underrated comment

[@oliwer6700]

how does this comment have almost 9k likes but only 1 reply

[@sarmakameshwar9085]

But we have only 2 foots. So we can get a big cement brick and can be placed on the 3 pedals in parallel. Hare Krishna.

[@anmolraghuyal1356]

Takes a screenshot

[@identifiesas65.wheresmyche95]

​@@oliwer6700youtube censor algo?

[@audreykate12]

Every piano teacher I ever had would just tell me “we don’t really use those” in regard to the two pedals to the left lol

[@ozmonto]

Even the soft pedal? What the? How did you play music with the ppp dynamic? Or even for pianissimo I utilise the soft pedal. I did receive that very same response with regard to the middle pedal however. I actually think it’s the coolest of all😂

[@Junokaii]

Whoever invented the piano was an absolute genius.

[@jessihawkins9116]

really? I always imagined it invented by an imbecile 🤨

[@gelodelacruz5071]

If you step at the sustain and soft pedal at the same time, your piano takes a screenshot.

[@ThePantherin75]

Very funny...😂👍. Unfortunately not. But good idea.

[@rihamy2nd]

Hilarious!

[@boxaccount2220]

I did it. It just closes the application:( (MY PIANO IS GONE!)

[@SometimesItsNice]

That was very, very funny. I have had beginner students who ask me what happens when they do that. Thank you, now I have the answer! :)

[@cakesandbakeswithliv6322]

😂😂

[@allovdem]

It's 3.52AM, I've never played piano, i've never had any interest in playing the piano, I have no intention of learning to play the piano. Yet, here we are.

[@Buddy308]

Oh, my, I'm 75 years old and a season-ticket holder at my local symphony, but I've never had an explanation of this marvelous concept. Thanks very much, Mr. Sung, for answering the question so clearly and beautifully.

[@WayTwo]

Sauce to noodle pedal

[@slightlokii3191]

Some say Hugh sung, but really he just played piano

[@lmva]

This made me want to die

[@alcoholicblue]

Send help, i"m about to die laughing..

[@pineapplefriedrice9598]

Such an underrated comment

[@Hanatash]

No no no, you misunderstood. Hugh's HUNG.

[@barackobama1187]

@@alcoholicblueMe: Calls ambulance' Ambulanse:Whats your emergency? Me: Uh a guy told me to send help because... uh he is dying of laugther? Ambulanse: ... Me: ... Ambulanse: WE WILL SEND EVERY UNIT TO HIS LOCATION NOW:::::::: GO GOG GO GOG GOG GO! They arive: Carefull he is a hero

[@TheLexx]

From left to right: Clutch, Brakes, Gas

[@meesjemees]

TheLexX piano racing

[@jayjay357]

Still need the handbrakes though.

[@hsxenon]

How do I rev match a piano?

[@vikrantsingh47]

no gas in tesla

[@lonewolf604]

@@hsxenon your hands have to play the same speed then you can downshift

[@maryrevis3367]

My piano instructor taught me this.waaaay back in the day. I fell in love with playing the piano at 5 age and now at 58 I can safely say....it's a love that's never left me and has only gotten stronger over the years.

[@holdengreen2151]

I've played piano for 25 years and no one could ever clearly explain the function of the middle pedal to me like you did. Thank you!

[@ashy969]

That's because 1) it is rarely used, so many people never learn what it is for 2) as you could see, they do different things depending on the piano type.

[@graemepatterson]

You played for 25 years and didn't use a sustain pedal??? 🤣🤣

[@martiddy]

What am I doing here?, I don't even have a piano.

[@ChapoGuzman896]

Vapor Wave - sama wanna borrow mine?

[@hanh2122011]

I want. Lend me a piano XD

[@Mad9977]

me neither lol still always wondered about these pedals =)

[@darrenjpublico5827]

XXX Brandon let me borrow it

[@ChapoGuzman896]

Darren Publico I got you brother 😘

[@SueDNim]

This is about 350% more than my piano teacher ever taught me!

[@blokos_]

reply

[@levince9315]

Basically: Left pedal: Soft sound Middle pedal: Save fade key Right pedal: Faded sound

[@nicksag.464]

Basically: Left: Soft Pedal Middle: Sostenudo Pedal (When only the notes you play are sustained)(on Grand Piano) Middle: Super soft/ “muted”/ practice pedal sound (mostly on upright pianos) Right: Sustain Pedal

[@weizhen77]

I don't play piano, but I have been curious about these pedals for decades! Thanks for the explanations!

[@deepapatricia]

Exactly same here

[@KenJackson_US]

Me too.

[@secondoverthree]

Decades??!!! Heck, how old are you

[@bella380]

me too!

[@boomstick900]

@@secondoverthree Decades old. Bye now!

[@ImNotADeeJay]

Easy one, from left to right: clutch, brake and gas

[@itsamemario1772]

Hal Haha

[@sundowner8326]

But can you do heel and toe on a piano?

[@gogetablackfinalgodform8489]

Thx lol

[@Youlises95]

Instructions unclear. Drove piano into wall.

[@Fluffyvoir]

Doesn't help for someone who isn't a car guy. I don't know what the clutch does. :p

[@thebluegamerdrummer2363]

my god your a genius! all i knew is how the sustain pedal worked. you taught me the best examples on how the 3 piano pedals work.

[@CunninghamPiano]

Awww shucks! Thanks.

[@davidkantor7978]

On a grand, the soft pedal does one other thing. The hammers usually have grooves where they hit the strings. When the soft pedal shifts them over, the softer part of the hammer - the part between the grooves- hits the strings, producing a much softer tone. This is qualitatively different from just hitting fewer strings, and a much more significant factor in the moderation of the tone.

[@Im_inside_your_walls_teehee]

I can finally understand. Now I can go back to playing the recorder.

[@shu8798]

Maria Jose Araujo 😂😂

[@deedum1162]

Maria Jose Araujo when you have roblox as your profile pic

[@BuceGar]

Hot Cross Buns

[@DownhillAllTheWay]

What do the pedals on a recorder do?

[@niijigod3864]

Lol

[@grandwaha]

Great explanation! Now I shall stick to perfecting the Kazoo

[@jailee6438]

The master kazooist it Jacksucksatlife

[@sapphire_moon781]

To play Spear of Justice? e-e

[@PS3Apollo]

Of course bandit, you got this 😂

[@maddogpatches]

haha me too

[@opsai3415]

Haha

[@cmfaraday]

Being a non-piano player, I've always wondered what the pedals were for. Thanks for increasing my knowledge today!

[@AtulJataayu]

Thank you for teaching us the subtleties of piano. What a great and grand instrument it has been.

[@CunninghamPiano]

It truly is. Thank you!

[@Flower_Mann1803]

What level of engineering was used to make these functions on the piano possible, like jeez!

[@Bo_7dra]

Plane:... Car:... Rocket:... Pedals on piano: OHHH MYY GODDD HOW DID THEY DO THAT??!!!

[@imahmud]

Now I know how to play piano properly, all I need is just a piano.

[@artguy2006]

I just learned more in this video about the pedals than I did in 20 years of piano lessons including an Ivy League college where I earned a music composition degree. Thank you.

[@totallyrealname8849]

I swear these 5-10 minute videos teach me more than half a month of school

[@duckbear1892]

What did Hugh do before he played the piano? Hugh Sung

[@CunninghamPiano]

Hahahaha!

[@hotcroc2856]

DuckBear xD

[@lindamitchell7778]

So easy to understand thank you

[@flawlessdior750]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@mrqk00]

I see what *Hugh* did there

[@Gutch220]

.....now all I need is a piano.

[@CunninghamPiano]

We'd be more than happy to help you get one! cunninghampiano.com

[@RainOn2SunnyDay]

.....now all i need is money

[@Engineer9736]

Getting a piano is the easy part 😂

[@yukiharukaze41]

Gutch220 Same here

[@bill605able]

would be quite a bit of firewood in that pianer

[@shogrran]

He's a doctor, he's an actor, now he's also a pianist.

[@WallyngroveMinistries]

He's also an assassin.

[@g-bgcg]

I was trained on an organ years ago but later played a piano just for fun. I never knew what those pedals were for except the far right one. The wonder of KZbin. Thank you!

[@chadurot1773]

Never drive a car after practicing a piano. if you will, drive at your own risk. XD

[@773Spair]

What about just after playing drums?

[@babylxrd3144]

Chad Urot 😂

[@bubblemuffin1231]

I’m about to have driving lessons soon after I’ve been playing piano and practice if constantly for four years 😬

[@onlyabudi]

Thats racist. Most asians can drive

[@eeiity8600]

Spair 😂😂

[@laynar9489]

If you step on the Ctrl + W Pedal, it closes

[@WilliamJMiller4Him]

lol thats how to close a tab: Ctrl + W lol

[@BrassFeline]

Woah nice trick xD

[@milky5699]

@@WilliamJMiller4Him no shit sherlock

[@marththehero-king8468]

*Ctrl+W*

[@plokijum]

Just remember to turn off your piano with ctrl+q

[@rasubosu355]

Don’t have a piano but “The more you know”

[@josbuys]

Never mind the funny comments below. I am a beginning piano player, just finishing the first year of official music and instrument learning in Belgium, and I sincerely thank you, Mr. Sung, for the clear explanation and demonstration of what the 3 pedals are for. Compared to the brief indications I have hear or read before, this clip says it all.

[@omnilink7757]

I'm hungry and all I can hear is "Sauce to Noodle Peddle" Now I'll never forget what the pedals do!

[@Stetofire]

Wow! That Sauce-to-noodle pedal is pretty cool! That was the one I had the most questions on.

[@CunninghamPiano]

Hahaha love that spelling ;)

[@joog_is_not_okay]

*Sauce-to-noodle Intensifies*

[@TocoaPuffs]

That's the entire reason I clicked on this video. My mom played piano growing up and she just said that she never used it, so I tried for years to figure out what it did, all to no avail. I'm calling her when she wakes up.

[@MRSALS]

Lol never pronounce that the same way again

[@rzgrimes]

Lol your interpretation of the name will now help me remember it. Thanks

[@zType2]

Liked the vid simply because this was short and quick to the point while even showing examples.

[@janwalker7620]

Thank you...I've played for more than60 years and this is the 1st time anyone has explained the workings of the peddles. Thanks!!!

[@Mix11c]

I am a professional pianist.. What am I doing here

[@jerrytheracecardriver1100]

I was hoping they'd look at some of those weird pianos with like 5 pedals and explain the extra ones. nope, just basic shit XD

[@Iqbal-zm9kc]

SOMBONG AMAT!1!

[@aureliekakou3752]

Showing off

[@sophiesmith6498]

Hahahah same

[@liaurrecoechea5367]

Because there’s always an Asian better than you

[@Senrab3123]

The Algorithm: Hey, here's an answer to a question you never asked but probably wouldn't mind knowing the answer to. Me: Yes please.

[@csrichardson7973]

I knew the sustain pedal, but not the other two. Thank you for such a clear demonstration and explanation. I appreciate it!

[@outcast1134]

Magnificent video. Studying music, the question of what exactly the three piano pedals do and which one is which quickly becomes an "at this point I'm too afraid to ask" question I feel, and having it explained so clearly and technically is a pleasure. Thanks!

[@2LucasKane3]

0:15 - Most important part. I can't tell you guys how often I see pianists trying to operate those pedals by hand while also playing the piano.

[@TheHitmanAgent]

But what if the piano tells you to 'press any key to continue' ?

[@stephenraatz2598]

Great description. They work so beautifully on a Bösendorfer. (I have their model 170). The sostenuto pedal on older grands is often out of order because it is so rarely used and so many people don’t know how to use it. It can be very tricky to get it to engage because of the critical timing between striking the notes and depressing the sostenuto pedal.

[@apologist3574]

Thank you. I have used the right most peddle (sustain) and known of it, but I never knew the function of the other two. I play on a baby grand at a church occasionally but am used to playing a Yamaha keyboard (with only a sustain peddle). I used the right most peddle on the baby grand in the same way but always wondered about the function of the other two peddles. I have to say "thank you" for finally answering this for me. It only took 70 years for me to learn that. LOL

[@Vuvus210596]

it freaked me out when the keys moved

[@CunninghamPiano]

IT'S ALLLLIIIIIIVVVVEEEEE!!!

[@groszak1]

it freaked me out when you said left instead of right

[@alanchan9938]

Vuvus210596 I played piano 12 years ago but I had no idea what is the use of the left pedal until now. 😂😂😂

[@EpicCrasher-pn3pm]

CunninghamPiano LOL

[@elonhusk5203]

Fact: you can drift with a piano

[@NamTaleYT]

Just play some Eurobeat

[@zerosocialskillz1221]

*insert deja bu meme*

[@mang00623]

Monikaaa love the ddlc fandom

[@Ushiplayz]

Fact : bears eat beats

[@thegoatishere5131]

Fact: I'm watching this because parts of 'your reality' is played with the sustain pedal pressed

[@HJB._]

I struggled to find an answer about this thematic in the last 6 years . . . . So much thank you, Mr. Sung.

[@thomasfowler1]

Been playing piano for 14 years (since 7 years of age) and I didn't know that the middle pedal did that😭

[@newpianotutorials]

Now I know why the sostenuto pedal didn't work on my friend's upright ! That has been bugging me !! Thanks !

[@lukask7445]

The "practice" pedal is the most defecting part of upright piano, expecially when used improperly.

[@georgeofhamilton]

What a marvel of engineering.

[@queenlara1385]

George Hamilton agreed

[@PedroRodriguez-bw2ow]

Art at its finest

[@generalgiorgi5172]

I was like WOW THE PIANO MAGICALY MOVED at 2:50

[@ameliathompson8822]

I am a piano teacher and find this video excellent, some other similar videos on YT give wrong information. Thanks for showing the mechanism inside the piano.

[@Blublod]

Never mind all the idiotic comments, this was actually an excellent explanation. Thank you!

[@ramen8130]

Rick Wyk can’t take a joke?

[@clarkkent6026]

@@ramen8130 I was going to ask which one is the choke pedal but I better not :p

[@gwg2813]

*funny comments

[@horrormaus5181]

You spelled funny wrong...

[@kenopsia9013]

Chill bruv😂

[@user-ug4vx8yl8w]

I thought its clutch, brake and gas

[@CunninghamPiano]

Hahaha

[@ceptencrinje9949]

Far right will increase tempo middle will decrease tempo and far left is a fermata haha lol

[@diptanshumistry7065]

That would've explained how Vanessa Carlton rode the piano in A Thousand Miles music video.

[@veriellefrancisco7745]

Use a hill toe then.

[@lordvader7871]

Watch it again closely. Set your phone down and then hold it. The keys do not move...the camera tricks your eyes.

[@lilacbunches]

I never understood what the middle pedal stood for...this explains everything so well. Thank you.

[@0livecat798]

On my piano I never knew what the difference of the left and right pedal, but now it’s really cool to see how they work and what they do

[@joshuarkristof80]

Oh man I've been banging my head on those pedals. Using my feet sure has made it allot easier. Thanks saved me allot of money on aspirin and bandaids.

[@CradleEpiscopalian56]

This was so clearly presented that I now think I can actually play.

[@D.A.DreamArt]

Very informative, as a guitarist I also love the piano sound! :)

[@MonkeyD._Luffy.]

I’ve finally learned the truth of a life long mystery. Thanks this was super helpful!!!

[@GuitarGabruz]

Best explanation!!

[@CunninghamPiano]

Aww, thanks, Guitar!

[@J33197NG]

My piano is so old the pedals expect the right one is broken (the middle one is being blocked i think) Edit: *except

[@togimathews8323]

Guitar Gabruz I have always wondered what these pedals were for. Thanks a lot .

[@jyoo1151]

Guitar Gabruz i

[@FijiTheSlime]

666th like *illuminati song pls... piano...? :(*

[@Barsabus]

If you stomp on them hard enough, they break.

[@SG-ho7xb]

Thanks

[@thomasraahauge5231]

the middle one brakes, doesn't it?

[@erichminnaar8348]

But why😂😂😂 but i killed myself laughing

[@acourt333]

Barsabus lmao sounds like you’ve actually tried it lmao 😂

[@hrshotta5467]

Erich Minnaar same

[@j.m.a.menocal1065]

Great clip! Thank You!!!

[@aartmark]

I don't play piano but I always wondered about those pedals and how they worked. Thank you for such a good explanation.

[@BobbyBlackhearts666]

Thank you for this informative and well-directed video! "There are three pedals, I've only got two feet!" - Victor Borge

[@trevn__]

Or Americans when they see a manual car

[@keepingitreel...8037]

@@trevn__ ~ Well it was an American who invented the automobile, so. . .

[@-rugged-]

@@keepingitreel...8037 Google Karl Benz.

[@trevn__]

@@keepingitreel...8037 yeah but exactly what percent of Cars on American roads are stick shift? Your argument is invalid once you see the statistics.

[@susiearviso3032]

Feet can be moved.

[@momentous58]

Others: Sustain Pedal Me: Gas Pedal

[@dfg302]

Just for allegro.....

[@terrymunday1014]

Momentous 58 7

[@hotcroc2856]

Momentous 58 Others:"You should press the pedal like this" Me: H E E L A N D T O E

[@desktorp]

*Now do classical gas.* ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@HashlandXXX]

Thank you, I always need a refresher

[@EagleEFC8]

Thank you so much for this! Adds a whole new dimension to my learning!

[@aazogbi]

You sir, explained in the clearest possible way a lifelong doubt I had. Thank you for the great video.

[@BobRDeTamble]

Excellent explanation! I've sat down and played around with the pedals and sort of intuitively figured out most of it, but hearing such a clearly explained description of what exactly is happening is very much appreciated.

[@jppitman1]

So, I guess there are 1,400 people who think they could make a better video than your informative presentation. Unlikely. Yours was concise and told me what I wanted to know.

[@jjmetrejhon1743]

Thank you so much for such a clear and interesting explanation!

[@rafee9442]

Clutch, brake and gas

[@CunninghamPiano]

Hahaha

[@thomasraahauge5231]

Exactly! :-D

[@calvincrompvoets8085]

Dem logics

[@YigitAcl]

okey but where is the wah pedal? -Kirk Hammet

[@davebellamy4867]

Really useful. It just came up on my feed. I have wondered for ages what the middle pedal did!

[@florencegibson8671]

Wonderful! I look forward to sharing this with my students!!

[@terdel8561]

Fun fact: “una corda” means “one string” in Italian, I didn’t get it from this video but I thought it was pretty cool

[@TnseWlms]

"Three pedals down there and I only have two feet. One must be overdrive." - Victor Borge

[@higorguedes4413]

A man played the piano, this is how he became one of the best classical musicians ever

[@pegasuskitchen]

Thanks for share your knowledge!!! Very useful!!! 👍

[@givemeoats]

the "sauce teh noodle" pedal is my favorite pedal

[@sunnydavis1849]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@emilyc.7278]

I was thinking the same thing Omg 😂😂😂

[@AvatarRedbull]

ahah I just commented this thinking I was the only one who thought of it

[@Xceloverdose]

I read your comment at the precise moment he said it. Made me laugh sir! 😂

[@yujinarukunnn7222]

r/boneappletea

[@Fierysaint1]

I've never touched a piano in my life and don't plan too. But this still interests me.

[@MrBlueHaze]

Excellent tutorial

[@murodbekmanov]

This is a very understandable and useful course. Thank you

[@tomlord5398]

"The one in the middle is to separate the other two".__________Victor Borge

[@BodaciousWickerman]

Great explanations. Although, I'm pretty disappointed that one of these isn't a wah-wah pedal!

[@CunninghamPiano]

Hahaha! Sorry to disappoint you :(

[@RecioCulture]

kirk from metallica has a piano with a wah wah pedal

[@rawen127]

BodaciousWickerman the Kirk hammet special. Crybaby piano

[@Shidorenpug]

BodaciousWickerman lol its not a guitar

[@ffggddss]

You can get that, but you hafta pay extra (NYUK!)

[@matthewdavar]

Thank you so much for this detail and clear explanation. Well Done!

[@austintalley7289]

Thank you for such a great lesson!

[@_knighted]

So: soft, sustain hold, and sustain.

[@alhemicarka]

Yup. Or soft, softer and sustain, on most uprights

[@AndyU96]

As a person whose only knowledge on the pedals is what he learned in this video, I will say no; it should be: 1- As long as held, everything is soft 2- As long as held, all notes that were being played during the initial holding of the pedal are sustained 3- As long as held, everything is sustained

[@jtm232556]

No. You weren't paying attention. From left to right, it's: una corda, sostenuto, sustain/damper.

[@kornaes]

@@alhemicarka or soft, softer and the softest ;)

[@carlotapuig]

@@jtm232556 "sostenuto" just means "sustain" in Italian. Therefore calling one pedal "sustain" and another one "sostenuto" is very vage and doesn't indicate the difference between both pedals. "Sustain" and "sustain hold" is much more precise and informative

[@fareesyna7x742]

nice..now i know what all those pedals for 👍👍👍

[@CunninghamPiano]

Yay! Glad you found this video helpful!

[@zainabe9503]

So next time you drive a car, don't confuse them pedals with the ones in this video.

[@wisnog99]

fareesyn A7X A7X !!! AS IN AVENGED SEVENFOLD!

[@patriciaapetrone]

I never thought of using the sostenuto and the damper at the same time. I'm self-taught, so I can only blame the teacher for that. Thanks for the video. You made me head right for my piano!

[@kimberlysieber2136]

This was so well explained and so helpful! Thank you for the beautiful video!

[@collj86]

I’ve been playin for awhile I’ve only used the sustain pedal. Didn’t know what the other two were till now Thanks

[@Halochief-mn8ii]

Same

[@dmhiix]

I don't play the piano, but I found this interesting.

[@TroyOi]

All this would be so easy to accomplish under computer control. But to think this is all done mechanically, you just have to stand in awe of the skill and inventiveness of the people who came up with this.

[@udayzachariah5351]

Lovely explanation of all the 3 pedals. Thank you!