Sustain Pedal

[Rayblewit]

 

[Rayblewit]

I just bought one of these.
Up until now, I rarely use sustain on my shitty little plastic sustain block thing.

Now, my new one as per the photo above, has a plastic cover plate.
What are your views on removing the plastic plate or leave it on?

Some of my tunes now have a new lease of life since using my new pedal. Sounds amazing.

These things are not so easy to play to he honest. The timing is a skill I need to acquire. Any suggestions or hints on playing methods would be much appreciated.

Ray

 

[happyrat1]

The plastic plate is there to protect the finish during shipping. It is meant to be removed.

 

[Rayblewit]

The plastic plate is there to protect the finish during shipping. It is meant to be removed.

I pretty much expected that would be your answer. I got the same from Google search. (AI).
But also AI told me that some musos leave the plastic plate on as it muffles the squeaky sound rubber soles make on the metal.
Anyway no right or wrong answer. It is not a big issue.

 

[Biggles]

You will quickly get the timing.

 

[trebleclef]

I'm not a pianist but I do use a sustain pedal when playing my keyboard.

I use a piano sound most of the time. The sustain pedal is great for ballads.

I change the pedal (release and press back down) when either the chord changes, or when there is a clash in the melody.

With regards to the timing of it, to ensure a clean change, it's best to bring up your foot as the note goes down, then push it back immediately back down again So for example...

The chords changes from G7 to C. When you play the melody note that coincides with the C chord, do the release and press action.

Sorry if that's confusing, I find it a bit hard to describe in text. There are YouTube videos that would help.

Good luck with it though. It does add depth to your playing. Not really necessary or an arranger keyboard but is nice to have.

 

[Rayblewit]

Thank you so much @trebleclef
Not confusing at all. Your advice is most welcome and I will certainly try it out.

I love the sound of it. It really enhances some tunes . . especially ballads as you said.

Cheers

 

[trebleclef]

Also another good use is playing a chord up each octave while keeping the sustain pedal pressed.

So like say a C or whatever chord you're on, playing it on the middle octave with your right hand, then the next octave up and the next on each beat.

 

[nakeyer]

I think it is impossible to play using piano sounds (no matter soft or hardware) on any MIDI keyboard without using so-called half-sustain pedal (Roland DP10 for example). But you will also need the instrument that can "understand" such pedal. Only that sustain pedal will give the right articulation of piano playing.

 

[Rayblewit]

I have noticed, if I leave the pedal depressed whilst playing subsequent notes, the sound is distorted as all the notes combine as one as if in an echo chamber. Sounds awful.
Certainly, timing is the essence.

I think it is impossible to play using piano sounds (no matter soft or hardware)

Not sure it is impossible. When I get the timing right, it sounds superb.
As for you half sustain pedal. . Never heard of such a thing. But thanks for telling me.

My keyboard is an Arranger. So I am discovering that some voices sound better without sustain. Especially with DSP.

A never ending learning cycle.

R

 

[happyrat1]

Sustain can be tricky. It's truly meant for instruments tthat decay naturally , harp, piano, celesta, etc and not for instruments with infinite decay such as horns or reeds. As always, use your best judgement as to when and how much to use.

 

[nakeyer]

"Never heard of such a thing. But thanks for telling me." Sure you heard about such thing. While playing the real piano the dampers do not immediately cover the strings, also the don't immediately leave strings. It always needs a time according to the speed the pianist presses and releases the sustain pedal. Did you ever see the real sustain pedal on the real piano? It don't work as a simple trigger!!! 50% of articulation while plaing piano depends upon with what speed you will press Sustain pedal and with what speed you will releese it.
So - the simple sustain pedal has a knob with on-off position. But the real sustain pedal has 128 levels of sustain!! That's why Roland DP10 or any other hemi-sustain pedal has not mono, but stereo-jack!!!
Please, think about that!