How to Use Piano Foot Pedals

Once you learn the basics of the keyboard,and the basic techniques of playing the piano, the next step is to learn how and when to use the Piano Foot pedals, so as to add depth and feelings to any piano piece.There are three pedals on the piano: the sustain pedal on the right, played with the right foot; the soft pedal on the left, played with the left foot; and the sostenuto pedal in the middle, played with the left foot.

The pedals are played with your foot; the sustain with your right, soft with left. The middle pedal, although rarely used, replaces the function of the sustain pedal once in a while, so it would be played with the right foot.

Place your foot flat on the floor when progressing through long passages without any pedal usage. If you find it hard to do this,move you seat back slightly to make yourself more comfortable (but not to far out).
When a pedal is meant to be played, place the heel of your foot on the ground directly in front of the pedal.
Pivot downwards, pressing down the pedal with the ball of your foot.
Your heel should never leave the ground while depressing a pedal.


The sustain pedal is the most often used pedal. It releases the strings of the dampers, felt-covered pieces of wood that deaden a string's vibration. muffled by the felt.
The soft pedal enhances soft passages. The soft pedal does not mean you should play loudly when depressing it so that the sound is soft.
The middle pedal, called sostenuto, is rarely used, but is indicated in music with clear instructions. This pedal keeps the dampers up that were raised when it was depressed, enabling staccato play independent of the sustained note.

Tips
Most piano pieces, including the classics, only require use of the sustain pedal, but the soft pedal is used occasionally.
Not all pianos have three pedals since the sostenuto is seldom used. That does not mean the piano is inferior or should not be used or purchased.
Never randomly use the pedal by going up and down on it because the music will sound choppy, instead of smooth.
Experiment with the pedals. Play a scale, and be aware of how you are using the pedal. Listen to the sound and how the pedal effects it.
The more you experiment with the pedal usage, the better you will become using it and enhancing your piece of music.
During practice time, include practicing with and without the pedal, holding it down and raising it, to get the desired effect.
Remember, after you get used to using the pedal, songs will sound unfulfilled without the pedal, so its important to know how to use the pedal properly.

How to Play Blues Piano Music

It may surprise you but, few pianists know how to successfully execute a simple blues on the piano. Given the hundreds of different chord variations in a 12-bar blues it's no wonder that many don't know which to choose so they simply avoid the whole process altogether.

Here are a few simple rules to follow when learning to play blues on the piano.
Most music that you hear is based on chord progressions and the blues is no different. So let's start with a basic 12-bar blues chord progression which would look like this in the key of F;
| F7 | | | | Bb7 | | F7 | | C7 | Bb7 | F7 | |
Now, I've already mentioned that there are hundreds of different variations of the blues so let's now show you the most common jazz blues progression. Overall it's the same progression with a few extra chords thrown in to make it sound more interesting;
| F7 | Bb7 | F7 | | Bb7 | Bo7 | F7 | A-7b5 D7b9 | G-7 | C7 | F7 | G-7 C7|
You will notice a couple of things about this progression. First is the A-7b5 D7b9 in the 8th bar before the G minor seventh chord. This is simple a minor II V put in front of the G minor chord to give it forward movement. Then you will see another II V at the end which takes us back to the top of the piece, again giving it that forward movement.
This jazz blues progression is the most common progression you will see and will serve you well in any music jam situation.
So, once you've mastered this progression it would be nice to learn how to solo over top. That's where things get a bit tricky. If you're just learning, my advice is to learn a simple blues scale which can be played over the entire progression.
A blues scale is made up of only 6 notes and here it is in the key of F;
F Ab Bb B C Eb and back to F.
Now, the fingering for this scale from bottom to top would be 1 3 4 1 2 4 5. And, of course if you kept going up to the next octave you would need to substitute 5th finger with 1.
This scale works so well on a blues progression it can become a bit monotonous. Therefore, I suggest you learn how to play some other types of scales during the II V's such as a dorian and mixolydian.