The damper pedal lifts the dampers that stop a piano’s strings, letting notes ring on after you release the keys. On electronic keyboards and in MIDI it is usually handled as a sustain pedal.
The basic idea
With the pedal down, many notes keep ringing, which adds width to chords. Hold it down continuously, though, and the ringing piles up and easily turns muddy.
Using it in performance and programming
Change the pedal where the chord changes so unwanted resonance does not linger. In a DAW you can edit MIDI CC 64 data and check how the notes connect.
How it differs from related terms
The damper pedal is an action that extends the resonance of a piano. It is the opposite kind of expression from staccato, which cuts notes short.
Use the pedal not only to lengthen notes but also to shape the breathing of a phrase.
