For those of you who already own a keyboard or digital piano, your instrument most likely has an input for a sustain pedal. Even if you are in the market to buy your keyboard or piano, you may want to buy a sustain pedal alongside it so you can extra expression to your music.
Sustain pedals are a must have, especially if you play classical music. Pretty much every song uses some sustain pedal, but oftentimes, classical music has it written on the actual score. Here is what sustain pedal notation looks like, in case you didn’t know. It’s the cursive letters that spell “Ped”:
Sustain pedals are also known as damper pedals and they are the most frequently used of the three pedals on a piano. On a standard, acoustic piano, it is located on the very right of the three pedals. When depressed, the sustain pedal “sustains” the sound that is played by removing all of the dampers from the strings and allows them to resonate without interruption.
Features
The Yamaha FC4 emulates this action electronically by extending the notes that you play on your digital instrument. The FC4 is very versatile and can be used as an FS controller for synthesizers and drum machines.
The FC4 works with a wide variety of keyboards, digital pianos, and synthesizers. The FC4 will work with any instrument that has a 1/4″ SUSTAIN input.
The connection is a PHONE plug and has a 6 foot cord, which is more than enough to reach your keyboard. The FC4 also has a rubber bottom that keeps it from sliding around while playing. When I first got my FC4 I had some trouble with it sliding around but I noticed that I was placing it too far back. If you keep the pedal directly underneath you it will not slide around like is does if it is too far in front of you.
To me, having a sustain pedal is a must when you buy a new keyboard or digital piano. I use sustain in almost every song or style that I play, so there is no way I could go without it.
Yamaha FC4 Sustain Pedal…… $22.99
