Definition

1. Noun:
   • A sustained bass note: In music theory, a "pedal point" is a single note, typically in the bass register, that is held or continually repeated while harmonies change above it. This creates a sense of tension and release.

Usage

• A "pedal point" is a compositional technique used in various genres of music, especially classical, jazz, and rock. It provides a stable foundation over which other harmonic movement occurs.
• It is commonly found at the beginning or end of a musical section.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The piece opens with a powerful pedal point on the tonic note, creating a drone-like effect.
  • The composer used a long pedal point in the bass to build tension before the final cadence.
  • Listen for the sustained low C; that's the pedal point anchoring the entire harmonic progression.

Advanced Usage

• "Inverted pedal point" or "upper pedal": This refers to a sustained or repeated note in a high register (like the soprano) while harmonies change beneath it.
  • The ethereal effect in the string section was achieved through an inverted pedal point.
• "Double pedal point" or "pedal chord": This involves sustaining two notes (often a perfect fifth interval) or an entire chord in the bass.
  • The finale is built on a massive double pedal point, giving it a monumental, grounded quality.

Variants and Related Words

• Pedal (n/adj): As a noun in music, it can refer to a foot-operated lever on an instrument (like a piano's sustain pedal) or, less commonly, to the pedal point itself. As an adjective, it describes something related to the foot or, in music, to a sustained bass.
  • The pianist used the pedal to blur the harmonies. (Here, "pedal" refers to the physical lever, not the compositional device.)
• Drone (n): A continuous sound, often on one or two notes, similar in effect to a pedal point but more associated with folk music (e.g., bagpipes).
  • The bagpipes' drone provided a constant harmonic background.

Synonyms

• Drone bass: Emphasizes the sustained, unchanging quality.
• Bourdon: A historical term for a drone bass or pedal point.
• Organ point: A synonym derived from the instrument where this effect is frequently used.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• "Over a pedal": A phrase used in musical analysis or instruction to indicate that harmonies should be played or understood above a sustained bass note.
  • This entire passage is written over a pedal on the dominant.
• "Pedal tone": In brass instrument technique, this refers to the lowest fundamental note of the instrument's harmonic series. While related acoustically, it is a different concept from the compositional "pedal point."

Noun

1. a sustained bass note