A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a head having a piezoelectric element that vibrates a diaphragm, a pressure chamber where an interior pressure is increased or decreased by vibration of the diaphragm, and a nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber to discharge a liquid inside the pressure chamber according to increasing and decreasing of the interior pressure; a drive unit that outputs a drive signal which becomes a first potential during a first period, becomes a second potential during a second period following the first period, and becomes a third potential, which is a potential between the first potential and the second potential, during a third period following the second period; a detection unit that detects a residual vibration inside the pressure chamber; and a control unit capable of modifying the potential of the third potential within a range between the first potential and the second potential.