pedal
PE-dul
[ English ]
Definition
- (Piano Pedal) A device on a piano that is activated by the foot of the performer. There are either two or three pedals on the modern piano.
- The right pedal is a damper pedal, which, when depressed, raises the from the strings and allows the sound of the piano to be sustained. This is the most used pedal. The letters "Ped" provide the directive for the performer to depress the damper pedal and the marking to indicate the release is a flowery looking asterisk symbol (More about keyboard notations). These directives should be exactly under the beat or fraction of the beat where the damper pedal should be depressed or released. It should be noted that there is a half-pedal directive that instructs the performer to depress the damper pedal fully and then release half-way before depressing fully again or releasing. The markings are similar, however there is a line between the two markings with a spike in the line where the half-pedal is to occur.
- The left pedal is the soft pedal or the muting pedal, which, when depressed, softens the volume of the sound. The term una corda (Italian for one string) is shown under the staff directing the performer to depress the soft pedal, and the term tre corde (Italian for three strings) is shown under the staff directing the performer to release the soft pedal.;
- Larger pianos will also have a third pedal in between the damper pedal and the soft pedal called the sostenuto pedal. Depressing this pedal will dampen only the strings that have been struck. The letters "S.P." below the notes of the composition direct the performer to depress the sostenuto pedal. This is often followed by a line slanted up with a downward line on the end to indicate the release of the pedal.
- See also damper pedal; half-pedal; soft pedal; muting pedal; sostenuto pedal; una corda; tre corde; Ped; S.P..
- (Pedal Tone) A range of pitches on a brass instrument that represent the lowest fundamental pitches of that instrument and the basis for the harmonic series for that combination of valves or slide position. The pedal tones are typically only practical to be performed by advanced performers, especially with instruments like the trumpet that are designed to play the higher harmonics more efficiently.
- (Organ Pedal) An organ keyboard played by the feet of the performer.
- (Harp Pedal) Devices on the modern harp that, when activated by the foot of the performer, raise the the pitch of selected strings up to two half steps or two semitones.
- (Kick Drum Pedal) A device operated by the foot to strike the bass drum (kick drum) of a drum kit.
- (Timpani Pedal) A device operated by the foot to change the tension on the head of a timpani thus altering the pitch.
- (High-Hat Pedal) A device operated by the foot to strike the cymbals of a hi-hat.
- (Pedal Point) A low, sustained note or drone in a composition, usually performed by the lowest voice or instrument of the performing ensemble. Also see (organ point).
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Last Updated: 2016-06-06 16:53:05