Pedal Points & Ostinato
Hold one note (or one pattern) steady while everything else moves above it — and watch the tension build until it finally lets go.
What is a pedal point?
A pedal point (or "pedal tone") is a sustained or repeated note — almost always in the bass, on the tonic or dominant — held steady while the harmony above it changes and moves independently. The chords above the pedal don't have to agree with it, and often briefly clash against it, building tension that only resolves once the pedal note itself finally moves.
The name comes from the organ, where a pedal note is literally held down with the feet while the hands play changing harmony above.
Tonic pedal vs. dominant pedal
A tonic pedal grounds a passage — even chords that would otherwise sound adventurous feel anchored to "home" because the tonic never leaves the bass. A dominant pedal does the opposite: it builds anticipation, since a held 5th scale degree strongly wants to resolve down to the tonic, and the longer it's held under shifting harmony, the more that pull builds — until the pedal itself finally drops to the tonic.
What is an ostinato?
An ostinato is a short melodic or rhythmic pattern repeated over and over, underpinning harmony that changes above it. It's a close cousin of the pedal point — instead of a single fixed note, the foundation is a small moving figure that keeps its identity even as the chords above it shift, common in minimalist, film, and video-game music alike.
Common questions
What is a pedal point?
A sustained or repeated note, usually in the bass on the tonic or dominant, held while harmony above it changes, building tension released when the pedal moves.
What's the difference between a tonic pedal and a dominant pedal?
A tonic pedal grounds a passage that wanders above it; a dominant pedal builds tension that resolves once it finally moves to the tonic.
What is an ostinato?
A short repeated melodic or rhythmic pattern underpinning changing harmony above it, related to a pedal point but built from a moving figure.
Why do pedal points create tension?
Chords moving above a held pedal often briefly clash with it, and that friction resolves only once the pedal itself moves to match the harmony.
Hold a pedal under any progression
Melody Monkey's Songwriting Studio lets you sustain a bass note under changing chords and hear the tension build.
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