One — sustain — for everything a beginner and most intermediate players do. Three become useful for classical repertoire that calls for the soft and sostenuto pedals, and console instruments include all three.
Start with sustain
It is the pedal used in nearly every style, and the one that is almost never included in the box. A universal pedal with a polarity switch fits nearly everything.
Where three pedals matter
Classical repertoire that specifies una corda or sostenuto, and any teaching that follows a graded syllabus.
What the instrument decides
A console piano like the ARIUS has all three built in. A portable has one socket, and the pedal is bought separately — which is why we list one in the accessories.
The questions players ask
What do the other two do?
The left softens the tone, and the middle sustains only the notes already held. Both appear in written classical music and neither is needed to play well.
Can I add pedals later?
Portable instruments usually accept a single sustain footswitch, and some accept a three-pedal unit designed for their stand. Check the manual before assuming.
Last reviewed 2026-08-19