Using the sustain pedal

The pedal on the far right of an acoustic or digital piano is the sustain (or damper) pedal. When pressed, it lifts all the dampers off the strings, letting the notes ring on even after you lift your fingers.

When to press and lift

If you hold the pedal down through multiple chord changes, the sound becomes a muddy blur. The golden rule is to "clear" the pedal whenever the chord changes: lift your foot as the new notes sound, then press it right back down.