pedal point
noun
: a single tone usually the tonic or dominant that is normally sustained in the bass and sounds against changing harmonies in the other parts
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Growly, subterranean pedal points and eerie screeches signal the three murders, evoked in animated silhouette by Nichols’ artfully gruesome projections.
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John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 11 Feb. 2018
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John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 11 Feb. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Pedal point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedal%20point. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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