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Most acoustic pianos come equipped with two or three pedals, but it is the sustain pedal, which allows notes to continue ringing after removing pressure from the key, which is most essential, whether you’re playing an old-fashioned upright or electric keyboard. However, unlike a standard acoustic piano, not all electric keyboards or digital pianos come equipped with their own sustain pedals. And even when they do, the included piece of equipment often leaves something to be desired in terms of quality.
The good news: you can easily purchase a sustain pedal for your keyboard, whether you want to add it to your setup or to upgrade the cheap pedal that came with your digital piano kit.
What Makes a Good Sustain Pedal?
Not all sustain pedals are created equal in terms of quality and responsiveness. Here is what to look for when buying a pedal.
Polarity: There is no manufacturer polarity standard, which means that a pedal that works perfectly with one keyboard may have the inverse effect—turn the sustain off rather than on—on a different keyboard. One way to avoid this is to simply purchase a pedal from the same manufacturer as the keyboard. You can also find a pedal with a polarity switch, which makes the device more or less universally compatible.
Action: When pressed, you should feel more or less the same resistance and responsiveness from a sustain pedal on an electric keyboard as you would on an acoustic piano.
Non-Slip: To keep the pedal from sliding backwards while playing, it is essential to have some kind of rubberized bottom or rubber feet. This will also keep the pedal somewhat protected from hard or harsh surfaces like cement.
Durability: Look for pedals made from durable materials and which won’t give out after only a few months of regular use.
