Songs That Use PEDAL POINTS
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- Опубликовано: 8 мар 2020
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Pedal points are one of the most tasteful and useful music theory tricks that you can use in songwriting.
It's not a chance that they are used all the time in any style of music. If you are a songwriter you simply must know how to write a song with a pedal point in it.
But what is a pedal point, and where we can hear them?
Well, on what it is: a pedal point is simply a note held or repeated through multiple chord changes. That is, the note stays the same, the chord changes, and the contrast between these two things is very interesting and (usually) pleasing to the ear.
Of course, there is more than one kind of pedal point, but more about this below.
Where can we hear them? Well, here's a new video that shows a few examples of the different kind of pedal points and how they are used in famous songs.
And to show you that Pedal Points are really used in all styles, I made sure to pick examples from a wide variety of genres.
Once you hear the pedal point sound, you will be able to recognize it anywhere and also you will be able to use it on your songs so... watch the video and enjoy.
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There are so many cool examples of pedal point out there...for instance, there is a high pedal note that is sustained over the first third of Borodin's "In the Steppes of Central Asia" in Rock music, there is The Who, Townsend uses it all over Tommy rock opera-especially in the "Underture" and also in their great song, "I Can See For Miles"...The Beatles used it too, think of "Tomorrow Never Knows" a trance like drone/pedal is created on the note C throughout, or even earlier-an example of high pedal is used in their song "Please Please Me"-McCartney 's vocal in the verses is a high E repeated over Lennon's main melodic line...Sting also uses them, as does minimalist composer La Monte Young...the list goes on, etc...a brillant effect, and what an excellent survey of this technique explained in this video!!!
Ahhh . . . I like the Jazz examples!!
Yes! I like jazz examples too. I like the examples too be as much diverse as they can be. It makes us better!
Pedro Mala yup, examples from familiar works are most easily digested, but examples from unfamiliar works or even artists one doesn't particularly like are effective in broadening one's understanding of music (but usually if one can compare it to something familiar).
I like them too! :) I'm just noticing they are not as popular.
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar ME 2
"I'm Blue" is probably the last song I expected to see used as an example ;) But that use of pedal point is rather cunning. Love your channel!
Boys Of Summer by Don Henley. Same three notes (Gb F Db) repeated over all (nice) chords (Ebm7 Bsus2 Db Bsus2). Then change for the song ending. Simple, but very effective.
Bagpipe music conceptionalizes this through drones. There even is a whole genre aptly named drone music.
Open-string chord voicings that often retain the 1st and / or 2nd / 6th string ringing throughout chord progressions also come to mind.
Wonderwall by Oasis may be the most famous example of a song that utilizes chord changes while the 3rd and 4th finger remain on the 1st and 2nd string respectively.
Yup. Wish you were here does the same thing during the intro
"Raindrop" Prelude - Frederic Chopin
In case you want to start a vote, I am in favor of jazz.
Your vote is in the ballot, sir ;)
Me too
Thanks for explaining this. I started to research the groove on one of my favorite songs "Sweetest Taboo - Sade" and realized that I've never heard of Pedal Point until I found out that the song uses that trick. I started using it in my own compositions and it really adds a color I like to my favorite chord progressions.
"Surrender" by Cheap Trick pedals THREE NOTES during the chorus: (F# B D#), while changing the ROOT note from a B to a G# to F# before playing an E5 and repeating the 3 note pedal over again.
One of my favorite slightly unusual pedal points: The last section of "Starship Trooper" by Yes called "Würm". There are 3 descending chords repeating, and the repeating note is in the middle instead of on top or in the bass, an open G on the guitar. The chords change inversions sometimes, but that open G stays through out.
I figured this progression out on my own a long time ago. The idea is that you take an open C chord (xCEGCG, with only the 1st G an open string) and slide that form up 3 steps to get an E flat major, then slide it up 4 steps to get a G major. (Negative Harmony strikes again!)
Now, to really play it, play 1 bar of G, 1 bar of E flat, 2 bars of C. Repeat ad infinitum.
Christopher Heckman If you listen closely, sometimes he plays the chords straight, the C form at G - Eb- C, and sometimes he'll do the G chord at the 10th fret with the D in the bass, then Eb, then C with E in the bass. This way the baseline alternates between G - Eb - C and a chromatic D - Eb - E. Very cool and somewhat subtle.
I want to learn all examples, even that jazz crap. I never skip your videos.
Thanks as always!
John petrucci's solo in the song ' At wits end '. In the second half of the song, he holds one high note while the singer is singing and the chords keep changing at the back. That's the best example I would give if anyone asked me about pedal points, cause the way he played it the note just soared!
"Turn it on Again" by Genisis is a master class in pedal point. It basically switches between a low B and a low C throughout the entire song, only breaking it a few times, very briefly.
I love jazz. What about 'On Green Dolphin Street'? Nice progression.
Great explanation! The examples were great too. I’m gonna be on the lookout for pedal points now!
I want a Jazz example!!!! :-D
ex: Lisliel by David Binney
Oh wow, GiTS was my go to show before bed for years. That song is ingrained in my brains!
Your videos are helping my jams be less stale!
I think now I understand Pedal points n some of its uses better... Thanks Tommaso👍
I definitely love your channel. You are one of my key Music guides together with a French professor (Gradus ad Parnassum) and an American one (Seth Monahan). Despite I am not a guitar player I learn a lot with you to better harmonise my songs. A great thanks and "Viva Italia!"
“Inner Universe” is one of my favorite songs from any soundtrack!!!
Awesome channel. I’m learning a lot.
Thank you!
As a music major in education your sessions here are great...
Pedal points are perhaps the most common technique used in music. From notes carried through a series of chords, to literally almost all metal rhythms, to lead lines where a note is repeated say every other note, and many jazz lines that keep referring back to a common chord tone through the changes. It's so true that this is used in literally every genre of music and from every culture. I'm literally straining my brain trying to think of any genre that doesn't *heavily rely* on pedal points in some way.
Let me know if you find it. AFAICT pedal points are in all styles - I'd be curious to hear a style of music without it.
Nope, couldn't come up with a single genre other than music witch is purely percussive in nature. Still thinking about it though and will post if I find anything.
Great lesson. Thank you.
Your videos are great and very demystifying. Thank you. Michelle by lynard skynard has an A pedal in the verse and it's relation to the harmony is really felt.
The siren sound in R.E.M.'s Leave is my favorite pedal point ever :)
Muy bueno loco!!! gracias!! Saludos desde Argentina!!
Go with the flow by Qotsa is another example of this technique.
Nice spot! I didn't think about that one. Would it qualify as a Static/chordal pedal point since the keys are repeatedly playing the same chord and the chords around that are changing?
Thanks Tommaso this is very helpful!
Great lesson, as always 👍🏼
Congrats on 100k!
Neil Young's guitar solo at the end of 'Cinnamon Girl' is one note over and over against changing chords. A compelling rhythm and great tone also help make it work.
"Samba De Uma Nota So"
Great example of pedal point in the melody!
Hello!
Maybe you could make a sequel to this video, on such an awesome topic: there seems to be a wealth of possibilities of expression with pedal points...
Particularly, I’d very much like to hear your comments on the harmonic development over a rather long pedal point (double bass and timpani) near the end of the opening movement of Bruckner’s 7th symphony!
What can you say about that?
I use them all the times.. all of my small tunes use pedal bass at some point.
It helps creating nice modal environments
MOOOOOORE JAAAAZZZZZZZZ!
Wonderful!
I like the vocal pedal in the very last line of More Than Words, by Extreme
Working through my Uni course - Music Theory and composition. I learned more about pedal points through your video and exaples than I have from my professors on this one concept. Thank you - I dont play guitar, in fact I have severe arthritis both hands. What would I gain from your course. Steve, Scotland
You can also make melodic pedal point. For example, if the bass keeps changing back and forth between two notes but you alter the harmony on top, it's like having two threads of pedal point contextualizing the different parts of the phrase. This extends to more complex figures, like a repetitive 4 note melodic vamp could be in pedal point with the other voices which alter the harmonic context of those 4 notes.
I'd call that a melodic ostinato rather than a pedal, but yes, the relationship is interesting.
Another famous pedal point similar to Jhonny Cash‘s hurt: „Say something“ (Christina Aguilera / A great big world)
I never noticed there was a repeating bass note in Blue. All the things you learn.
I guess Opeth's Grand Conjuration has a pedal point in the main riff.
Pyramid Song by Radiohead has an F# pedal point the entire time, which really helps it stay in F# Major Phrygian. A String of Pearls by Glenn Miller uses what I guess you could call a pedal chord, with only one note changing, to form the main melody.
Yepp, PP's can help the listener to understand that "although we play the note set of X major, we should be thinking in M mode".
Thank you sir...
Love from INDIA
That nocturne was used for the song "Love's Dream" in the movie Lisztomania (which has lots of Liszt's and Wagner's music, re-arranged by "stunt pianist" Rick Wakeman).
Most of "Sober" by Tool is the bass playing the D octave while the guitar changes around what the other notes of the chords are while still keeping D in all of them.
The opening to "pinball wizard" by the Who!
Jazz as hostage.. I'm outraged! ;)
Though hopeful that you may have enough jazz compositions to produce an entire video on pedal point in jazz and world music. Props for including Dawn of the Dead and Ghost in the Shell.
Great video, thx!
A good pedal point riff is crazy train. By ozzy Osborne written by Randy Rhoades.
An example I always like of a "mid frequency" pedal point is the beginning of "Bodies" (after the static into) by The Smashing Pumpkins. Makes the chord progression have more angste. It does it on the choruses also.
The electric bass note on the verse of Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You by Frankie Valley & the Four Seasons is an excellent and genius example of pedal point.
Enjoyed the video. Have heard of pedal points before so wasn't that interested. So what grabbed my attention? The picture of Johnny Cash. The Man in Black is one of my musical heroes.
Knowing that you are more jazz oriented (and that the famous jazz drummer Buddy Rich looked down upon country music with disdain) I was curious of what kind of connection you had with Johnny Cash. You have raised my appreciation and understanding of pedal points and Johnny Cash (even though he didn't write 'Hurt'). I'm going to try adding pedal points to my music writing.
Sorry to hear you felt the sting of static from your viewers concerning giving jazz examples. I too feel a little bit of that consternation with others when they don't feel what I feel when I listen to Leo Kottke.
For the record (if you're interested), I like country and western, classical, rock-n-roll, folk, blues, and especially bluegrass, and flamenco, but not jazz (unless it's Benny Goodman and others of his era). Perhaps you could do a study or a survey of why you get so many non-jazz lovers yelling don't do that.
I don't think you're discourage by this, but just in case you are don't get dishearten you have a lot to offer us. Even though I, (and others like me) don't enjoy and/or understand all of what you are providing doesn't mean we don't get some knowledge and pleasure. Keep hp the good work.
Love your Music Theory videos, even though I'm not a guitar player ; ( - I'm always taking your information directly to my keyboards, expanding my understanding of note & chord interplay. If I ever seriously take up the guitar, your Complete Chord Mastery course is on my list.
Since I'm currently strongest with my 88-friends, could you recommend a comparable course?
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge & expertise.
Sadly, I know of no comparable course for piano :(
interestingly enough I though that one of the most famous guitar pedal point based songs was omitted in order to create a lot of comments addressing the lack of it, but after reading some comments, so far no one has mentioned Wonderwall
also other songs worth mentioning are, Everybody wants to rule the World by Tears for Fear, and The Aftermath by Kashmir, the latter albeit not that famous is definitely a worth checking out
Here are my examples of pedal point songs all in minor ket:
Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac
Damned if I Do by the Alan Parsons Project
American Heartbeat by Survivor
Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
Riding the Storm Out by REO Speedwagon.
Lucifer by the Alan Parsons Project
Most songs by Journey, etc.
Brilliant...
Hello Tomas! Jazz is good so ... As for some p p examples: 'Are You Experienced' - The Jimi Hendrix Experience; 'In The Light' - Led Zeppelin. Thanks and I hope you and your friends, family are not affected by the dreaded coronavirus out there in Italy
"Downtown" by Petula Clark has many different pedal points. Also "Yesterday" in the key of F has an A pedal point in the violin part...I think.
Someday my prince will come (Miles Davis) in the Wynton Kelly's intro.
Radiohead use pedal point *a lot* and to great effect. My favourite example is in "How to disappear completely":
High pitched strings play not just one note, but a tone cluster, which is sustained in the background throughout the first verse. When finally they stop on a chord change, the release of tension is beautiful.
AC/DC - Thunderstruck; Intro of Rush's Spirit of Radio; Van Halen - Eruption. Yup, it's everywhere :)
Thanks for this and all of your awesome videos. I've learnt heaps from watching them.
One question I have - when a musician plays a solo, and as part of it, plays the same note for a really extended period while the chords play along in the background, is that a kind of pedal point too? Or does it have to be a more integral part of the song?
Yes, it's a pedal
The Beatles use a lot of pedal point, for example: Dear Prudence (low ánd high), Blackbird (middle), Tomorrow Never Knows, Love You To, Helter Skelter
I'm not making Beatles examples due to their aggressive policy on copyright. It's their right to be that aggressive - but this also means that I will never talk about any of their songs in this channel to avoid lawsuits.
Of course, thank you for posting the examples. They are still good examples :)
Excellent examples!
Yea, it's incredibly unfortunate that copyright laws are what they are and enforced so aggressively. It heavily diminishes the world of music in general and what people can do to create their own unique music. But for music learning channels, it's simply absurd at best.
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar Thanks for the explanation. Blackbird is a classic example of a pedal point on guitar.
Pedal points make the songs a bit rock, really something new I learn today
See The Gathering Sky from Pat Metheny Group. Long Pedal Point on G in the Intro and first two Tema expositions. More Jazz Definitely!!
Chariots of Fire!
Ok.. you used judas priest's song and ghost in the shell sac opening song. I love you
"Samba de uma Nota Só" (One-Note Samba) is a Bossa Nova example. The lyrics are clever. It's a song about itself, and more.
Big Love by Fleetwood Mac. Especially live version from The Dance
Genesis Turn it on again is an example of almost a whole song build on a pedal, and..... Tubular bells! The main melody in fact IS a pedal!
Meshuggah - Aztec Two Step -- whole song is one big pedal point :D
Jumpin’in by Joe Satriani has a kind of evil chord progression over a pedal point during the solo until the end of the song. It is super tensed I love it.
Ecstasy by Axxis has a pedal in the middle for all the song
Please make a petition if you should add jazz examples
More jazz. I was hoping for Naima by Coltrane
Jazz is awesome. Metal is awesome. all music has it's place!
For the ultimate example of pedal point in the bass, look no further than the piece Resolution by John McLaughin's Mahavishnu Orchestra.
would with or without you be also the case? a High D pedal, actually a full D major arpeggio (played on the sinth) combined with the bass going D, A, B, G, making the harmonic progression of Dmaj, A sus (sort of), B min 7, G maj 7?
Yes :)
More jazz please!
Here's a couple more:
"Right Here, Right Now" by Jesus Jones (D, Dm, E over D pedal point)
"Us And Them" by Pink Floyd (verse; then there's bass movement in the chorus, for contrast)(why didn't anyone say this right away???)
Jacob Collier uses them a lot too, for example at the end of You and I
True! Then again, I think it would be hard to find a music theory device that Jacob does NOT use ;)
I was always fascinated by the end of Harmony, by Elton John. I believe it uses a pedal point melody with a constantly changing chord progression. So clever and so musical.
I’m Still Standing uses them quite a bit too. Especially the intro.
If I have a chord progression C D7 repeating is that a pedal point because both chords have a C
If the C note is played by the same voice in both chords, then yes.
Turn that C into a C(add 9), and you get a double pedal point. (with both D and E held)
seems to resonate with the concept of *vamping*
It's similar but not the same. The idea of vamping is usually to play one or a few chords in the same scale with little harmonic progression (to give a static/waiting feeling). The idea of pedal point is to keep one note through the chord progression, but the chords can have significant progression (even changing key several times).
another idea that composers utilized when playing the pedal note was the use of octaves
I could say "Atonement" by opeth. Also because they used unusual scales.
Much of Pete Townshend's writing for The Who, eg Substitute (D drone), intro to Pinball Wizard (E and B)...
"I Can See For Miles", especially sliding that open E form up and down the neck and letting the low E sound against the chords.
Tom Petty's American Girl intro: Guitar holds pedal D chord while bass moves underneath.
I vote for more deee dabba dee dabba daaa dabba deee!! haha I´m "jazz" joking. Any example is good. Do what you want and keep on, thanks a lot for every video. Complimenti da Madrid!
Would "wonderwall" by Oasis be a pedal point?
Yup!
That was my first thought :)
Good catch! 'Wonderwall' features a double inverted pedal point, with the guitarist playing an E and an A over the chords F#m, A, E, B. My personal favorite inverted pedal point is 'She talks to Angels' by The Black Crowes.
Yngwie Malmsteen does pedal points a lot, very Bach-inspired.
Robert glasper would be a jazz musician that uses pedal points
Love Lockdown - Kanye West the 808 is a pedal point?
your lessons are always great but : PLEASE MORE JAZZ EXAMPLES !!
Oook... ;-)
does a bagpipe naturally use a pedal?
Huge Liszt fan too
thought you should know by STEREOMA
How about the Em - D - C - D progression over the D pedal in Stairway to Heaven, just after ``And it makes me wonder''? It doesn't get anymore mainstream than that, though, ironically, this progression does serve as part of a jazzy interlude!
BLACKBIRD BY THE BEATLES !!!