Pedal technique in jazz piano?

Jazz Theory Discussion
1

Hi,
just got a quick question: what is the role of the sustain pedal in solo jazz piano? Are you supposed to avoid it completely or does it play a role?

Kind regards
Rosa

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Hey RĂłsa :wave:

Great question!

We certainly use the pedal when playing solo jazz piano, or solo blues piano. Depending on the exact style that we are playing, the amount of pedal that we use can vary.

I actually hosted a workshop on using the pedal when playing solo jazz and blues piano, you can find that workshop recording here:

In the workshop we discuss pedaling techniques across a variety of styles, including blues, jazz ballads, and faster swing tunes.

Key topics include:

  • Using the pedal in slow blues to avoid muddy dissonance—lifting the pedal during chromatic movement and sustaining left-hand shells for clarity.

  • Pedaling in jazz ballads like Body and Soul or Misty, using the pedal to support lush harmonies while keeping the melody and inner voices clean and distinct.

  • Minimal pedal use in swing and bebop, with occasional “fluffing” (quick pedal taps) and strict lifting in stride to preserve rhythmic clarity.

  • Practice tips, such as matching pedal changes with chord changes, lifting on chromaticism, and sustaining left-hand voicings without over-pedaling.

For this workshop I created a 3rd camera angle which shows my pedal and foot so that you can see exactly how I am using the pedal, please see the screenshot below:

jazz piano pedal technique workshop
jazz piano pedal technique workshop1920×1069 161 KB

@rnapoleonsdottir - If you have any further questions please post them in this thread or in the comments section of the seminar page.

I hope you find the workshop useful!

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Thank you for the reply!
I will check out that seminar!

RĂłsa

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On the page below the left hand arpeggio uses a 9th which sounds really good but the stretch even with a roll is to much., I have to lift my pinky after the first note is played. To get over this I have had to use the pedal and would like to know weather this is acceptable or is there any other method I could use?. Regards Kevin.

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Hi @kevinrhart :wave:

Great question!

I have combined this into our discussion thread on sustain pedal technique.

Yes it is both acceptable and appropriate to use the sustain pedal for this kind of left hand technique.

The alternative would be to play all 3 notes simultaneously, but this can be a stretch for some people with smaller hands.

For the song “Moon River” which you are referring to, I would recommend to ‘roll’ the left hand notes and use the sustain pedal, as this also creates a little more interest in the left hand when the notes are rolled and not played simultaneously.

Be sure to lift the sustain pedal right before changing chords, otherwise it can be easy to ‘blur’ the harmony together.

If you check out the seminar above I included a 3rd camera on my foot to demonstrate sustain pedal technique. We also discuss some other considerations such as lifting the sustain pedal when the melody is busy to ensure that we don’t blur the melody notes.

Technique for Stretching Wide Intervals

I created a tutorial earlier this year which demonstrates a stretching technique to help our hands become more accustomed with the shape of 10th intervals.

You can find that tutorial below. This is a blues piano tutorial, but the left hand 10th interval techniques are equally applicable to playing jazz ballads too:

This kind of stretch can feel very unnatural to start, but experiment with the technique I demonstrate where the left hand pinky slides down the key.

With a little practice your hand will become more comfortable playing in this style where it’s just the tip of the pinky and thumb in contact with the piano notes.

I hope that helps Kevin - and let me know if you have any further questions.

Best,
Hayden