h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The right pedal on horizontal, or "Grand" pianos, is refered to as the soft pedal, but maybe it should be called the singing pedal. This pedal is called for in compositions by the term "una Corda". The single string that is unstruck when the soft pedal is struck is left to begin sympathetic vibrations by picking up sound energy from waves and connections at the block where all the strings froma note are connected. The lack of percussive content in the sound of this string lends it a singing tone adding a desired quality to the music being played. Piano's sound particularly "mellow" when this pedal is used, especially without the "loud" pedal.