Sustain pedal – which model to choose in 2025?
If you’re starting piano, it’s quite likely that you’ve already come across the term sustain pedal without understanding what it was all about. It must be said that not all manufacturers include one, and yet, this accessory is essential for proper piano practice.
Indeed, if all real acoustic pianos have had one for centuries, it’s really not for nothing. Would you like to understand how it works and find your future model? If so, know that you’re in the right place!
I’m therefore going to teach you everything there is to know about the sustain pedal and also suggest the best model on the market. By the end of this article, you’ll know what it’s for and why it’s essential to have one for proper piano practice. Let’s get started!
What is a sustain pedal?
For beginners, it’s true that the term sustain pedal can seem unfamiliar and mysterious. But don’t worry, there’s nothing simpler to understand than this!
Definition
The sustain pedal is, as its name indicates, a pedal that is placed at the center of a piano at floor level, so that you can operate it with your foot. When you activate it, you’ll be able to extend the sound of the notes you play.
Let’s take a more concrete example to illustrate the role of the sustain pedal. Imagine you’re in front of your piano and you press a key. As long as your finger remains pressed on that key, the note will sound. However, the moment you release that key, the sound will instantly stop. And that’s exactly where the sustain pedal comes into play: by using it, your note will continue to resonate even if your finger releases the key.
You’ll agree that such an asset allows you to do all sorts of very practical things! Let’s immediately see how the sustain pedal will considerably improve your playing.
Usefulness
The sustain pedal is, as you’ve seen, very simple in design and use. But what will having such a pedal on our instrument do for us? Speed up so our piano rolls faster?? Hmm, not really… But I admit that would be pretty cool!
You’ll have note sustain support: The main advantage of the sustain pedal is indeed the fact that it can extend the length of the notes you play. Thus, you won’t need to keep your finger on a note to make it sound for a long time.
You’ll improve your musical expression: The direct consequence of this note extension is an improvement in your playing depth. Indeed, many of your pieces will be much more beautiful and harmonious when you play them using a sustain pedal.
You’ll be able to correctly reproduce the music you learn: Oh yes, more than 90% (I’d even say 95%) of the piano pieces you want to learn require the use of a sustain pedal. If the difference between the original listening and your interpretation is so glaring, it’s certainly because you’re missing this essential accessory!
You’ll be much more versatile: Finally, using a sustain pedal will considerably improve your versatility and therefore your playing level. By learning to master it, you’ll better understand how it works and its value. You’ll therefore know when to use it and when you should refrain from it, thus greatly improving your performance and musical creativity.
Well, I hope I’ve convinced you to invest in this accessory that’s essential in my eyes! Now that the sustain pedal holds no secrets for you, it’s time to get one. But which one should you choose? And is this thing expensive?
Choosing your sustain pedal
Be immediately reassured, the price of a sustain pedal is negligible. Obviously, there are several at all prices, but honestly… Why bother buying a pedal that costs nearly three figures when models five times cheaper meet absolutely all expectations? That’s why I’m only presenting one model here, simply because it’s the best sustain pedal on the market. It’s the most popular, best-selling, highest-rated, most effective, and one of the cheapest… So why deprive yourself?
The M-Audio SP-2- the best choice
I’m generally accustomed to offering numerous models and alternatives for each product, but here… I see no point in doing so. Indeed, the M-Audio SP-2 sustain pedal has no flaws! You just need to see how popular and highly rated it is to realize this. Moreover, it’s universal, which means it will be compatible with any digital piano. You simply need to plug it into your instrument’s pedal input. The M-Audio SP-2 sustain pedal also makes an impression because it’s sturdy, reliable, high-performing, and grips the floor well. It’s going to be difficult to find faults with it, I’m sorry…
This accessory delivers flawless performance! Its users praise its long-term durability – some have even been using it for over 4 years, and it still works like new. Others appreciate its simple design as well as the performance and playing comfort it provides.
In short, the M-Audio SP-2 sustain pedal meets all expectations, all at an excellent value for money. Don’t look elsewhere – this is the best possible compromise.
See the M-Audio SP-2 sustain pedal on AmazonIs this accessory really essential?
YES! Uh… okay, I’ll elaborate a bit more than that. So obviously not – several digital pianos don’t even include a sustain pedal in their delivery, which proves it’s not mandatory. But honestly… I don’t see how you could do without it. If you want to learn piano seriously, the sustain pedal is essential. Yes, that’s a very definitive opinion, but I believe it.
If you’re a beginner, learning to play around or do your first scales, yes, you can do without it. But you’ll see that very quickly, the pieces you learn will require a sustain pedal. It’s not for nothing that even digital pianos for beginners have an input for such an accessory. Digital piano manufacturers know very well that the sustain pedal is essential for 95% of players.
Be careful though – a sustain pedal should not replace good piano technique. Many people indeed use it to mask their imperfections, which is absolutely not a viable solution. Learn the technique first, then use this accessory with elegance and moderation, and I’d bet my ten fingers that you won’t be able to do without it anymore. And believe me, I don’t want to lose my ten fingers…
Let’s sum up
There you have it – now you know everything there is to know about the sustain pedal. Take your time making your choice, but keep in mind that such an accessory will radically change the way you play. Moreover, the price is so low that it would be a shame to go without it.
If you’d like to learn about other accessories for your digital piano, don’t hesitate to check out the sections on audio headphones, piano stands, or piano benches.