| As I started to try and answer this, I soon realized that pedalling,
for me, is a totally sub-conscious thing. It's one (of the few) things
I don't seem to have to think about.
When I'm playing mostly chords, I tend to always use the pedal and lift
it momentarily at each chord change. It makes it sound less choppy and
the last chord blends into the new chord much smoother.
For other things, basically I think you have to use your ear. With the
pdeal down, the piano sounds "fuller" but when you the notes you are
sustaining don't mesh well and things start to sound muddy, you have
to lift the pedal.
I've never really thought to notice if anyone else's pedal technique
is much different. Actually I suspect it's not - that is, I suspect
most pianists (when they are using the pedal at all) tend to do what
I do.
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| For a guitarist, a good analogy to pedaling is string muting. It
basically has the same purpose and effect, but is accomplished by
dampening the strings directly with the hands. There's also no
one or correct way to do it; you can damp with either hand, with
different parts of the hand, etc, basically whatever works and
feels comfortable. Like the pedal, it's also something that you
do unconsciously and just takes time and practice to develop.
/rick
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