Pedal down

As Printed on a Score

Shown in piano scores by Ped. or the start of a pedal bracket; the words pedal down appear mainly in teaching editions and footnotes. It holds until the release sign or the end of the bracket.

How Composers Use It

Pressing the sustaining pedal holds all sounding notes and adds sympathetic resonance from the undamped strings. In harmonic music, show exactly where it goes down and up, usually just after each change of harmony, to avoid blurring. For a deliberate wash of sound, write a long pedal and say that the blur is intended, so the player does not tidy it away.

Related Terms