The sostenuto pedal is a feature found on many pianos that allows musicians to sustain specific notes while other notes can be played without sustaining. When the pedal is pressed, it holds the notes that are being played at that moment, enabling a more complex sound texture. This is particularly useful for creating layered effects in music. Unlike the damper pedal, which sustains all notes, the sostenuto pedal offers selective sustain. It is typically located in the middle of the three pedals on a piano. This pedal is often used in classical music to enhance the expressiveness of a performance.