Nice work!
Is it called Pedal Point even it's a bass or other instrument playing the sustained note? Or only if it's a keyboard?

Thanks! It is called Pedal Point whether the note is sustained on bass, tuba, keyboard, organ, or contrabass clarinet. Or any other instrument, for that matter.

Great Podcast. Some good information, I never knew the exact meaning of pedal point and you guys did a great job of clearing it up. It makes perfect sense now.

Can't wait for the next Podcast. Thanks.

Really nice Podcast, filled with good examples, and great explanations. Even a musician learn from your podcasts, so thanks a lot !
By the way, at a point of last podcast, you say that we will soon be able to listen to classical music on pandora. Just when ?
Cheers

Thanks, Joe! Glad you liked it.

Thomas, I wish I could say an exact date for Pandora's classical debut, but we really just need to see how it develops. We do have a team of analysts working exclusively on classical music at this point, but since it's a brand-new genome -- different traits and characteristics from jazz or Latin music or hip hop, of course -- it will take a while to work out the kinks. Work is underway, though.

Hey Kevin and crew,

Just wanted to say thank you so much for the podcast series! Your mostly jargon-free, easy-to-understand approach is fun to listen to and has enabled me to explain my musical ideas to fellow musicians way better than I could have before. So, thanks and keep up the brilliant work!

Cheerio from snowy Germany

Heh heh, it's always a challenge including just enough jargon. Cool that these have helped you explain your ideas to other musicians. That's what I like to hear.

Dear Kevin and Co.,
Another great job! It's amazing that songs I've listened to a thousands of times become fresh and new after your podcast now that I know more about the nuts and bolts, like the Who's Who Are You? Thanks for the wonderful podcasts that make all listeners feel welcome.
Barney
Sweden

Ah, so that is what pedal point is! I've been using it all the time in my songs to create tension before introducing the main melody and then resolve it by having the bass follow the melody.

Of course I didn't know any of that at the time, it just sounded good.

I love when that happens -- when I can identify a compositional technique that I've been using, and can now place it in a broader historical context.

And Barney, cool that you can hear some of those classic songs with a fresh ear. I love it when that happens, too.

Hi there,
first of all I really appreciate your work getting down to the bottom of things and simlifying everything so wnyone could understand it. I'm studying music and I find your podcasts really helpful. anyway, I had some problem. I downloaded the mp3 file about pedal points but when I play it it sounds as if I hit play and rewind on an old tape recorder. I'll be greatful if you can help me out and aend me the file.
Thanks.

Hmmm... very odd that we've been getting reports of technical difficulties with this episode. I'm looking into what could be causing this. Thanks for your patience.

It's definitely fixed now, y'all. All systems go.

Thanks for fixing pedal point, it was worth waiting for. I grew up hearing organ church music and that may be why I luv gosple blues too, anyway I'll have to practice pedal point on the organ now and see what I can create. thanks ssrb

I turned a friend on to pandora she likes stacey orico (msp), anyway she also likes classic so she'll be looking forward to you adding that too.

Cool! Yeah, the organ is the perfect instrument for pedal point, as those low notes can really boom. Particularly the actual 'pedals.'

Wow. I had never known that, and had never even heard of it...

Thank you Pandora.

I know you have 1 Phil Collins song on there, but Genesis gives solid pedal point examples as well. It just seems like hearing Phil Collins' voice and hearing the bass stay on the same note over changing chords goes hand in hand. Good example: "Throwing It All Away". "No Son of Mine" has really deep chord substitutions over a pedal bass as well.

Oh yeah, Genesis is ALL about pedal point, Dave. One of my favorite Genesis pedal points is on "Squonk," from the '76 record 'Trick Of The Tail.' Almost the whole song pedals over a D.

Music is life. Without music how could one live.I like to thank Pandora, you guys are number one. Thank you for giving life to my job everyday. Save the music; rock on,Play it loud

I had never known that, and had never even heard of it...

thank you

Man, this is great! I hope you keep these blogs up for along time. I am a big fan of pedal point composition!

Hello webmaster, very nice site here, great work!
TomasKell

This is fascinating. I'm always fascinated with the sheer passion music can give off, and this idea of 'pedal point' greatly interested me.
Although, I have to admit, if we try and make 'passion' or 'emotion' too technically I think it loses passion and emotion. In other words, there is still nothing like passion or emotion to make music emotional or passionate. Mixing true passion with things like pedal point, though, makes for a brilliant combination!