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Musical Instrument Accessory
Updated July 11, 2025
Middle piano pedal
The middle piano pedal sustains only the notes you're holding when you press it, letting other notes stay crisp. It’s like a selective hold button for smoother, richer sounds.
Category
Musical Instrument Accessory
Use Case
Used to sustain specific notes while playing the piano, allowing other notes to remain unaffected.
Variants
Sostenuto pedal, practice pedal, bass sustain pedal
Key Features
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Sustained note control for selective keys
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Softens sound for quiet practice
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Selective dampener for bass notes
In Simple Terms
What it is
The middle piano pedal is a special pedal found between the soft pedal (left) and the sustain pedal (right) on some pianos. Unlike the other pedals, its job isn’t as obvious. Think of it like a “mute button” for specific notes—it lets you hold some sounds while playing others normally.
Why people use it
This pedal is handy when you want to keep a bass note or chord ringing quietly while playing brighter, clearer notes above it. Without it, holding down the sustain pedal would make everything sound muddy. It’s like having one hand writing neatly on paper while the other hand keeps a bookmark in place—you get clarity without losing your spot.
Basic examples
Playing a slow, dreamy song: Hold a low note with the middle pedal to create a soft hum, then play a melody over it without the notes clashing.
Practicing in a shared space: Use the pedal to dampen the sound of repeated bass notes, so you don’t disturb others while still hearing the melody clearly.
Adding depth to simple tunes: Let one chord linger like an echo while your fingers move to new notes, making the music feel richer.
The middle pedal isn’t used as often as the others, but it’s a neat tool for adding control and texture to your playing. If your piano has one, try experimenting—it’s like having a secret helper for smoother, more polished music.
The middle piano pedal is a special pedal found between the soft pedal (left) and the sustain pedal (right) on some pianos. Unlike the other pedals, its job isn’t as obvious. Think of it like a “mute button” for specific notes—it lets you hold some sounds while playing others normally.
Why people use it
This pedal is handy when you want to keep a bass note or chord ringing quietly while playing brighter, clearer notes above it. Without it, holding down the sustain pedal would make everything sound muddy. It’s like having one hand writing neatly on paper while the other hand keeps a bookmark in place—you get clarity without losing your spot.
Basic examples
The middle pedal isn’t used as often as the others, but it’s a neat tool for adding control and texture to your playing. If your piano has one, try experimenting—it’s like having a secret helper for smoother, more polished music.
Technical Details
What it is
The middle piano pedal, often called the sostenuto pedal, is a specialized control mechanism found on some grand and upright pianos. It falls under the category of sustaining pedals, alongside the damper (right) and soft (left) pedals. Unlike the other pedals, the middle pedal’s function varies by piano type and manufacturer, but its primary purpose is to sustain selectively played notes while allowing others to remain unaffected.
How it works
The sostenuto pedal operates using a mechanical or rod-based system that engages with the piano’s action. When pressed, it catches and holds the dampers of any keys already depressed at that moment, allowing those strings to vibrate freely. Subsequent notes played are not sustained unless their keys are held down manually. In some upright pianos, the middle pedal may function as a practice mute pedal, lowering a felt strip between the hammers and strings to dampen sound.