[doug russell]

OK I'm starting to do pedal notes and I do like the playing them. But can I fit them into a solo, can I heck. I havent found a way of using them in any song yet. Help from anyone please.

[Doug]

Hey Doug (from the other Doug),
I was reading a book about Joni Mitchell that I got for Xmas and in it there is a whole chapter on pedal points. But the author just assumes that the reader knows what they are.

I don't.

Can you explain?

-Doug

[doug russell]

Originally Posted by Doug

Hey Doug (from the other Doug),
I was reading a book about Joni Mitchell that I got for Xmas and in it there is a whole chapter on pedal points. But the author just assumes that the reader knows what they are.

I don't.

Can you explain?

-Doug

Oh heck Doug (from the other Doug) I'm terrible at trying to explain in word, so here is a link to bail me out. Thank god for youtube
YouTube - Blues Guitar Lesson: Pedal Note Lick

[OldG]

That link you posted explains very nicely - he 'pedalled' the A, then picked up pentatonic scale notes to make a riff (with the the same A being played every other note).

Learn yourblues/pentatonic scale off by heart (if you havent already) - and pedal notes using 1 1V V ( ADE, EAB etc) notes so you can follow a blues around...

[allthumbs]

so that is what i have been doing. Works great for turn around chords in blues. I use the root of a chord on the second string in caged D up the neck and play the 3rd string doing an alternating scale run from 5,#4,4, and then jump down to the b3 and do a trill before ending on the root on the 4th string.

I also do a D string root at the D chord near the nut. alternating the D in the bass with treble notesn and walking them down. Hit the 3 on the first string, then first string open which is 2. Then the root d on the second string, then the major 7 and then the 6 ending on the
D root up at the 5th string 5th fret. Basicaly I am doing a 3 note aprpegio where the root and 5 stay contsant while the top trebble note moves down the major scale. I will upload a lesson that contains that phrase if I ever get my recording software working.
You can put a pedal or drone note anywhere, treble or bass. Play with it. Sam idea as holding a 3 and walking down a 1,7,b7. They are everywhere once you know what to look for.

[doug russell]

I've been playing for 10 years now and although not at a level I should be, I'm doing ok. I'm just frustrated at not been able to employ a technique to which I've put a lot of time and practice in. I just cant seem to find a place for it. Maybe I'm trying to much,,I dont know..

[allthumbs]

Hmm. You would have to pick your spots for it. It would get old fast overdoing it

[solidwalnut]

Originally Posted by doug russell

OK I'm starting to do pedal notes and I do like the playing them. But can I fit them into a solo, can I heck. I havent found a way of using them in any song yet. Help from anyone please.

Hi Doug, how are you...

I think there are a couple of ways of looking at this. Pedal notes really come from the whole Pedal Point concept. I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, but here goes...

First off, that vid on YouTube is really a great way to put just the basic notes from the chord shape into practice. It's good, but I think knowing the basis might be helpful. And hopefully it will inspire you to play around more with this.

I'm not going to be able to give the most technical answer, but if you're interested, here's a link that really sums it up well in the first couple of paragraphs. Basically what it's saying is that a pedal point riff or section of a song is one where the bass note is staying 'home' and the other notes are dancing around it. Usually they start at a point and create tension as the notes dance back toward home. The chord wants to resolve back home.

Here's a pedal point riff I recorded some time ago. It's a riff written by Rob Straight. He sent the track to me with the key bass, kick, stick and ebow. I added the acoustic rhythm and lead tracks. I hope you enjoy!

So notice in this particular recording, key of Em, how the chord structure changes each time until it resolves, in this case to an E major chord (Emaj7(9), technically). It begins with an Em7 chord. Listen for the 1, b3 and 5 notes of the chord. Add how the 7 moves for color. The 1 stays 'home'. The bass note stays on 1 the entire riff. The b3 moves backward at each chord change, a total of 4 chords, chromatically, in half-steps until it resolves and becomes a 1. The 5 moves backwards chromatically until it lands to become the major third of the E chord (as opposed to the minor third of the original chord). The 7 moves backwards until it lands on the 5. So you end up with a major chord triad of 1, 3 and 5. The actual end chord adds the color tones of the chord, the 7 and 9 notes.

The lead part I played just keys on the basis of the pedal movement. I take advantage of the fact that the first chord and the ones that follow are basically in the key of Em. On the last sequence of the riff I change to play the chord tones of the Emaj7(9).

[knight46]

This has been an interesting thread with some great information. Steve that riff was great, thanks to you all.

[doug russell]

Steve thanks for that it's really enlightning. and the Accoustic solo was really sweet. In fact thank you to everyone, I think it's going to be when I feel it will fit the tune. But please any more info and help is really welcome.

[6string]

Here's a video on pedal points that's been posted today, I wonder if he reads this forum? YouTube - Acoustic Guitar Lessons "Pedal Point"

[allthumbs]

that vid had a much better feel to it than the first one IMO. Good stuff.

[Doug]

I liked that.

Very relaxed - just screw around while watching TV - try to get somethng going.

Great teacher.

And for the other thread about parlour guitars - I think that's one. Looks like an Art and Lutherie.

[Doug]

Actually - I don't know what kind of guitar it is.

[solidwalnut]

Originally Posted by 6string

Here's a video on pedal points that's been posted today, I wonder if he reads this forum? YouTube - Acoustic Guitar Lessons "Pedal Point"

I love that vid, that's really great. Just goes to show how many songs out there with a pedal point 'point of view'.