A pedal point is a sustained or repeated bass note that stays in place while the chords above it change. The pedal often begins as a stable anchor, then creates new tension as the upper harmony moves away from it.
A tonic pedal is common in intros and vamps. A dominant pedal can build anticipation before a section lands.
Keep C in the bass
Play the upper chord tones over the same low C. The bass stays fixed even though each chord changes its relationship to C.
Try the bass line C – C – C – C under the chords C – F – Am – G.
Try it
- Choose a tonic or dominant note and hold it through four chord changes.
- Listen for the moments when the pedal note becomes a chord tone, an extension, or a dissonance.
- Resolve the tension by returning to a chord that clearly supports the pedal.
Key takeaway
The bass does not need to follow every chord root. A steady pedal can unify a changing harmony and make its points of tension easier to hear.