The sustaining pedals are an essential component of a piano that helps to prolong sound. Some people may refer to the sustaining pedals as the damper pedals or the resonating pedals. These pedals work by lifting all the dampers off the strings, which allows the notes played on the piano to continue ringing out until the pedal is released. The term 'sostenuto pedal' also refers to a specific type of sustaining pedal found on some pianos that allow only a selected few notes to sustain. While each term has its unique connotation, they all refer to the pedals that give the piano its characteristic sound.