I have been playing music on and off, for a long time now, and I still haven't figured out what the sustain is for, I have used it once or twice, but was never found the compelling need to, as I see other players use it all the time.
The way I see it, if I want notes to keep playing, I just keep them pressed until I want them to stop playing, and then I let them go. Also, if i want notes to keep playing even after I have let them go, then I would press the sustain pedal, but why would I do that if I couldn't use my hands for playing other notes? Ofcourse, I might want to push a keyboard function button, but in a plain old wooden piano, why would anyone use sustain?
Reiterating my thoughts, if you press the sustain pedal, to keep a note/s playing, so your hands are free to do what not, then wouldn't the next notes you press also become sustained, causing too many sustained notes? or is there musical reason for that, which I as a musical novice, am not able to fathom.
Thinking about it, I do see one place where I might use it. If i wanted to have a chord sustained, and move my free hand to a far off chord, leave the sustain, press the next chord, thus giving the illusion that I have moved my hand at the speed of light. Am I on the right track?
Even though I have advanced quiet a bit in the improvisational level, there are some gaps in my musical knowledge, and this is definitely one I want to fill. I keep seeing people using the sustain pedal all the time, I have never required it myself.
Please explain.
Thanks in advance.
Sincerely
Benz.