Pedal Note in D minor (Dm)
Dramatic harmonic tension holding a D pedal under minor chords
A pedal point sustains the note D continuously while upper harmony moves through D minor, B flat and C major. On bass this creates cinematic tension. The root mode demonstrates the standard chord progression while the pedal mode explores the hypnotic pull of the stationary bass note.
What the bass plays, bar by bar
The progression
- Dm
i · Bar 1, 4
- Bb
VI · Bar 2
- C
VII · Bar 3
It runs in 4/4 at 84 beats per minute, so each bar lasts about 2.9 seconds and the whole round about 11.4.
Bar by bar
| Bar | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dm | D2D2D2D2 |
| 2 | Bb | D2F1Bb1A1 |
| 3 | C | D2E1G1C#2 |
| 4 | Dm | D2F2E2D2 |
Notes with a dotted border are not part of the chord.
Where each chord sits
- Dm
Bar 1, Dm.
The root D2 sits on open string 2 and the fifth A1 on open string 3.
The walking line plays D2, D2, D2 and D2.
- Bb
Bar 2, Bb.
The root Bb1 sits on string 3, fret 1 and the fifth F1 on string 4, fret 1.
The walking line plays D2, F1, Bb1 and A1.
A is not a note of Bb.
- C
Bar 3, C.
The root C2 sits on string 3, fret 3 and the fifth G1 on string 4, fret 3.
The walking line plays D2, E1, G1 and C#2.
D and C# are not notes of C.
The last note sits a semitone from the first note of Dm.
- Dm
Bar 4, Dm.
The root D2 sits on open string 2 and the fifth A1 on open string 3.
The walking line plays D2, F2, E2 and D2.
E is not a note of Dm.
How the root moves
D2 → Bb1 → C2 → D2
The roots are D2, Bb1, C2 and D2. D2 to Bb1 goes down four semitones, Bb1 to C2 goes up two semitones and C2 to D2 goes up two semitones.
The lowest note of the circle is E1 and the highest F2. It uses strings 4, 3 and 2. Strings 4, 3 and 2 ring open at some point.
Pedal Note in D minor (Dm) line for electric bass
One bar per chord with the root and fifth line for four-string electric bass (E, A, D, G).