Damper Resonance: Playing Piano with String Resonance

Damper resonance occurs when all dampers are lifted off the strings while you play the piano. This type of string resonance is popular because it adds a lot of atmosphere to the overall sound, making it almost impossible to escape the magic of this complex reverb effect.

Damper Pedal and String Resonance

When you depress this pedal, all the strings of the piano can vibrate freely. When you then play a single note, it is enriched by the resonance of adjacent and related strings. The result is a rich tone with a kind of reverberation effect that can also harmonize a series of notes.

The strongest resonances occur with notes whose overtones are in harmony with each other. If you play a middle C, it will resonate in the strings of other octaves. Moreover, other tones in the natural overtone series will also be quietly stimulated, such as the augmented fifth and the major third two octaves higher.

Using Damper Resonance Tastefully

The more notes you play while depressing the damper pedal, the more reverb you get. As a result, excessive use of this pedal will cause the notes to blend together, leading to a mushy sound. On the other hand, if you know how to use the damper resonance properly, you can create great sounds with the pedal.

There are several ways to combine notes with the damper pedal. You can immediately hear the difference in sound by either playing two consecutive notes directly into the pedal you are holding down or by depressing the pedal after the first note and then following up with the second note.

The Damper Pedal in Sheet Music

While many scores clearly indicate the use of the damper pedal, in some cases, it is a matter of taste whether and how the pedal is used. For example, the damper pedal is a popular stylistic device for linking chordal accompaniments. At the same time, you can use it to create more “spatial” harmonies, riffs, and ornaments.

The dosage of the pedal effect is always important, so playing the pedal properly takes some practice. As a rule of thumb: Whenever there is a noticeable change in harmony, release the pedal for a moment and then depress it again with the new harmony.

Many digital pianos allow you to adjust the intensity of the damper resonance: Kawai Virtual Technician, Roland Piano Designer, Yamaha Virtual Piano Room /Smart Pianist.

Damper Resonance & Half Pedaling

Almost all digital pianos allow for nuanced pedal play. This means that the pedal effect is not simply switched on and off when the pedal is depressed. Instead, it reacts in fine nuances and allows for continuous modulation of the string vibration.

This type of playing is called “half pedaling”. Of course, if you’re playing a home piano with built-in piano pedals, you don’t need to worry about this. However, the digital piano function of the same name is important when playing a stage piano that uses an external pedal. In this case, it’s best to at least know the differences between sustain pedals.

Most portable pianos also support the half-pedal function – even if they come with a simple foot switch as a sustain pedal. In this case, you should plan to purchase a decent sustain pedal along with your instrument.

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