Pedal Tones



A Pedal tone is when a bass note is repeatedly played after changing melody notes.  This creates a classical sound with the key being defined by the underlying bass note being repeated.  Some of the best rock guitarists use these frequently in their solos and rhythm riffs.



1 --3-0-2-0-3-2-0--0--
2 --------------------
3 --------------------
4 --------------------
5 --------------------
6 --------------------

No 1 uses the E minor Scale based off the open E note on string 1.


1 -2-0-3-0-5-0-7-0-8-0-10-0-12---
2 -------------------------------
3 -------------------------------
4 -------------------------------
5 -------------------------------
6 -------------------------------

No 2 is the entire Eminor scale ascending on String 1 using the open E Pedal tone.

J.S.Bach was a large user of the pedal tone technique. Some of his most elaborate and interesting pieces are full of these.


1 -12-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--10-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--8-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--7-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--5-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--3-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--2-0-0-0-0-0-0-0---0-
2 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No 3 is the Eminor Scale descending on String 1.


Now to mix these up a bit !!!

1 --12-0-8-10-7-0-8-0-5-0-7-0-3-0-5-0-2-0-3-0---0-----
2 --------------------------------------------3---3/5-
3 ----------------------------------------------------
4 ----------------------------------------------------
5 ----------------------------------------------------
6 ----------------------------------------------------

No 4 to be played over an E5 or Eminor chord


1 -12-0-10-0-8-0-7-0-8-0-7-0-5-0-3-0-5-0-3-0-2-0-----0-0-
2 ------------------------------------------------3------
3 -------------------------------------------------------
4 -------------------------------------------------------
5 -------------------------------------------------------
6 -------------------------------------------------------

No 5 to be played over an Emajor chord.

As usual to maximise the benefits from these lessons, learn these and change them into your own musical creations.

It is great to learn new techniques wherever possible on any instrument as the 5th one you learn may become your favourite or perhaps even your trademark!!!!

Lesson courtesy of http://www.allmusicacademy.co.nz