A sustaining pedal is a device that allows piano players to sustain the sound of notes played without having to keep the keys pressed down. It is also known as a damper pedal, as it lifts the dampers off the piano strings, allowing them to vibrate more freely. Some synonyms for the sustaining pedal include the "loud pedal", which is a term commonly used by musicians, as well as "sostenuto pedal" which is a pedal found on some higher-end pianos that allows for specific notes to be sustained while others are not. Another synonym is the "una corda pedal", which softens the sound of the piano by shifting the position of the hammers.