pedal
PEH-duhl
/ˈpɛdəl/
A foot-operated lever on an instrument used to alter the sound, sustain notes, or change pitches.
Pedals are used to modify the sound after it is produced, such as sustaining piano strings, changing harp tuning, or adding electronic effects to a guitar.
The story behind the word. Pedal comes from the French 'pédale,' which was borrowed from the Italian 'pedale.' This traces back to the Late Latin 'pedale,' meaning 'a thing for the foot,' derived from the classical Latin 'pes' (foot).
Word relationships
- foot lever: Foot lever is a generic mechanical term, while pedal is the specific musical and vehicular term.
Commonly confused with
- lever: A lever is operated by hand, while a pedal is strictly operated by the foot.
Word family
- pedaling (noun): The technique of using pedals during a performance.
- pedalist (noun): A person who operates a pedal.
Collocations
- sustain pedal
- depress a pedal
- foot pedal
Example sentences
- "He pressed the sustain pedal to let the final chord linger." Describing piano performance.
Memory hook
Think of a bicycle pedal. You use your feet to push a bike pedal, just as you use your feet to push a piano pedal. Pedal starts with 'ped' (like pedestrian)—it is always for your feet.
When not to use
Do not confuse this with hand-operated levers or keys.
Fun facts
- The grand piano has three pedals, but some specialized pianos have up to four, including a 'harmonic pedal' that allows selective resonance.
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.