sustain pedal

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Novacek’s playing was like a more subtle translation of Josefowicz’s, leaning on the piano’s percussive core, using the sustain pedal for attention-calling washes of resonance and, in the Kurtág, landing some seriously concussive accents.

From Washington Post • Nov. 24, 2019

Then they put screws and playing cards between strings, put duct tape over the dampers, put bricks on the sustain pedal, and other sorts of odd customizations.

From The Verge • Nov. 8, 2019

But Aretha deployed the sustain pedal much more actively than Ray did, who used it with rather startling infrequency.

From Slate • Aug. 16, 2018

It’s a tom-tom drum tuned very low and held under a piano, with someone holding the sustain pedal down so that it would ring when something hit it.

From New York Times • Mar. 18, 2016

Mr. Sacks stretched out his rubato phrases at will, making them skulk around over steady bass and drum grooves, turning most of his harmony a little dark and dissonant, and never using the sustain pedal.

From New York Times • Aug. 2, 2010