Pedal tones vs. balloon tones

[revolead]

That sounds about right; something like tremolo-picking the 'E' string and playing power-chord progressions over it. Think Metallica songs, the verse rhythms to 'Crazy Train,' etc. (though modern metal bands have taken it to new heights).

I didn't want to hijack the other thread (and it's a mess over there), so I'm starting a new one to answer this basic topic.

 

A pedal tone technically is as follows:

 

Dolmetsch Online Musical Dictionary:applied to brass instruments, the pedal tone is the note which is at the fundamental frequency of the harmonic sequence of the instrument, but it is not a resonant frequency of the air column. When the bell effect raises the lower resonances of the closed tube, the lowest resonance is actually not used, being out of tune with the rest of the notes. However, if the player's lips are vibrated at the pedal tone frequency, all the harmonics above it contribute and produce a tone at this pedal tone pitch. It is sometimes called a fictitious fundamental, but for the bass brass instruments, it is quite strong and useful

What we are talking about of a sustained bass note carrying through is defined here as by Wikipedia:

is a sustained tone, typically in the bass, during which at least one foreign, i.e., dissonant harmony is sounded in the other parts

When you place the note on top, it becomes a balloon tone, which was described in detail in an issue of Guitar Player a few years ago. It involves taking a series of chords and placing a single, consonant note above it, so that you'd have something like a D (playing an F# on the E string), then a G (still adding an F# on the E string so that is becomes a Gmaj7) and a C (still playing an F# on the E string so that it becomes an add4 or add11 depending on how you look at it (this could be a whacked out inversion, but I'm not that great with inversions, so if it is, please inform me now).

 

Anyway, balloon tones were popular in Baroque music, especially with Vivaldi, who if you listen to his music you can hear common tones above several chords.

 

Hope this clears things up. If you think I'm wrong, let me know.

[Dr. Ellwood]

What I wanted to know is WHO started calling it a peddle TONE?

[revolead]

Originally posted by ellwood:

What I wanted to know is WHO started calling it a peddle TONE?

The name originates from the German pedalkoppel, or feet keys, that were used by organ players in the Baroque period. So you can thank Heir Bach, Heir Mozart, et al.

I'm not defending, offending, or endorsing it. It works well when done well, and sounds like crap if it's done wrong.