Here, you'll find a full array of sustain pedals designed for keyboard instruments, including digital pianos, digital organs, keyboards and synthesizers.
Digital Piano or Keyboard Sustain Pedals
Sustain pedals designed for digital pianos or keyboards are based on the function of the rightmost pedal of a normal acoustic piano, which is also known as the damper pedal. With an acoustic piano, the sustain pedal allows the strings inside the piano to vibrate freely, even when you lift your hands away from the keyboard and release the keys. The sustain pedal can be used to mix notes, so you can do things like strike a chord at the low end of the keyboard, sustain the notes via the sustain pedal and then strike a few notes at the other end of the keyboard so that the lower and higher notes ring out at the same time. In practice, there are two different kinds of sustain pedal: the more simple and affordable box-style pedal, and the acoustic-piano-style spoon pedal, which is a better choice if you prefer the look and feel of a normal piano pedal. Some spoon pedals support a 'half pedal' function, which will only work if your digital piano or keyboard model supports the function as well. This imitates the effect of pressing the sustain pedal of an acoustic piano halfway down which results in a softer, more subtle sustain.
Special Piano Pedals
While the most-used piano pedal is the sustain pedal, some pianos also have an extra one or even two pedals. While having the extra pedals can be useful, if you're planning on taking piano lessons, then they won't be essential. The pedal on the left is the practice pedal or the sostenuto pedal. On upright pianos, the practice pedal is often in the middle and, when pressed, really dampens the sound to push the volume all the way down. Because this pedal can also have a deadening effect on the sound, it's not designed for performances but for quieter practice sessions. On grand pianos, the middle pedal is the sostenuto pedal, which has a similar function to the sustain pedal, but while the sustain pedal sustains every note you play while the pedal is held down, the sostenuto pedal only sustains the notes played the moment the pedal is pressed. This way, you're able to sustain specific notes rather than every note. For more information, see our full blog about the three piano pedals and what they're for.
Are you looking for a different kind of pedal for your keyboard, digital piano, organ or synthesizer? Have a look through our range of Volume & Expression Pedals or Footswitches.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sustain Pedals
Can I connect a sustain pedal to my digital piano or keyboard?
Around the back of your digital piano or keyboard, there's usually a port labelled 'sustain' or 'damper', meaning that this is the input for a sustain pedal. It's worth having a look in your user manual just to be certain. Sustain pedals fitted with a polarity switch will be compatible with any instrument but, if the pedal doesn't have a polarity switch, check the specifications to see what make and model the pedal is compatible with.
What does the polarity switch of a sustain pedal do?
If the polarity switch of a sustain pedal isn't set to the right position for your digital piano or keyboard, then it will do the opposite of what you expect, so notes are only sustained when the pedal is released and when the pedal is pressed, they sound normal. To figure out the correct polarity setting for your model, you can simply try both settings until the pedal functions as it should. Pedals that don't come fitted with a polarity switch are usually designed for a specific model or brand.
What does 'sustain' mean when playing a piano or keyboard?
Sustain literally means 'to continue'. When the sustain pedal of a real acoustic piano is held down, the hammered strings aren't dampened. Instead, every note you play rings out for as long as the pedal is held. Even if you lift your hands from the keyboard. The sustain pedal of digital instruments like a digital piano or keyboard has the same function. You can sometimes adjust the effect of the sustain pedal depending on the selected sound. If you want to use a sustain pedal, double check that your model is compatible.
What does a keyboard pedal do?
A keyboard pedal sends a command signal to the keyboard. So in the case of a sustain pedal, it tells the keyboard to hold the generated sound when you release the keys. There are also expression pedals which can be used to adjust the volume or the vibrato while playing. Have a look through the user manual of your model to check what kind of pedals your digital piano or keyboard is compatible with.
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