What Does the Right Piano Pedal Do?
Updated Nov 13, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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The right pedal on a piano is the sustain pedal, also called the damper pedal. Pressing it lifts the dampers off the strings, so notes keep ringing after you lift your fingers from the keys. Releasing the pedal drops the dampers back, and the sound stops.
What the right pedal lifts inside
Inside an acoustic piano, a felt damper rests on each set of strings and stops the sound when you lift a key. The right pedal lifts all the dampers at once through a lever. With the dampers off the strings, the notes you play keep ringing until the pedal comes up.
Press down to hold the sound
Press the right pedal down with your foot and play the notes you want to hold. The notes keep ringing while the pedal stays down, even after your fingers leave the keys. Lift your foot to release the pedal and stop the sound before you play the next group of notes.
Release between phrases to stay clear
Release the pedal at the end of a phrase, then press it again for the next phrase. Holding the pedal down across phrases blurs the notes together. Short, clean pedal changes keep each phrase clear while the notes still ring.
The right pedal on a digital piano
On a digital piano or keyboard, the right pedal is a separate sustain pedal that plugs into the pedal jack. Pressing it holds the notes the same way as the damper pedal on an acoustic piano. A polarity switch on the pedal lets it work with keyboards that read the pedal signal in reverse.
What you need
RockJam 6.35mm Sustain Pedal for Electronic Keyboards
A sustain pedal with a 6.35mm plug, a polarity switch and an anti-slip rubber bottom, for keyboards and digital pianos.
- Polarity switch
- 2-year warranty stated
RNSXYAT Sustain Pedal
A universal sustain pedal with a polarity switch, a 1/4-inch jack and a non-slip design, for MIDI keyboards and digital pianos.
- Polarity switch
Casio SP3 Sustain Pedal for Keyboards Standard
A piano-style sustain pedal for Casio keyboards and digital pianos with pedal jacks, with a 1/4-inch mono plug.
- Piano-style pedal
Casio SP-20
A piano-style sustain pedal with a 1/4-inch audio jack, made to sustain notes like the damper pedal on an acoustic piano.
- Piano-style pedal
These come from our ranked list Best Sustain Pedal for Piano, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
Is the right pedal the same as the sustain pedal?
Yes. The right pedal is the sustain pedal, also called the damper pedal. It lifts the dampers off the strings so notes keep ringing after you lift your fingers from the keys.
Why do my notes blur together when I use the pedal?
The pedal holds every note you play while it stays down, so notes from one phrase ring into the next. Release the pedal at the end of a phrase and press it again for the next one.
Does a sustain pedal work with any keyboard?
It works with keyboards and digital pianos that have a sustain pedal jack with a 1/4-inch input. A polarity switch lets the pedal match keyboards that read the signal in reverse. Check the jack on your keyboard before you buy.
Ranked sustain pedals lists
More how-to guides
Product details come from each Amazon listing and can change. Check the listing before you buy.