Pedal Point – Chords Over An Ostinato Bass

Good morning. This is Duane. Today I’d like to talk about chords over pedal point. Pedal point is a term that was originally used by organists because they would play one particular pedal (with their left foot, in case you’re not familiar with the organ). Let’s say they were in the key of F, and they might push down a C on their pedal. Then over that C they would play different chords, that sort of thing. Of course you can use it on the piano by just using the same note of the left hand, also called an ostinato bass, something like that. You see that I’m using the B flat chord, and then the F chord and then the C7th chord to get that kind of feeling, but it can be used in all kinds of songs. For example, listen to this. You probably recognize that as “Chariots of Fire.” How about “Over the Rainbow”? My left hand is basically the C, is playing a C chord. My right hand is varying between C, F, C6 and then G and then back to C.

Let’s take a jazz tune. That’s called “Green Dolphin Street.” Notice the C chord, C minor 7th over C, F minor 7th over C, D flat major 7th over C. Once more. Of course, you don’t continue that forever, but you do it for a while to establish the feeling. This is just an idea for you to use. Sometimes try using a pedal point with the left hand with different chords over it and see what you get. Try it out on various songs. I just played what, 4? I think I played Chariots of Fire, Over the Rainbow, Green Dolphin Street and something else. Anyway, it can be done. Just an idea for you that are a little more advanced to try things like that. Thanks for being with me and if you’re not already signed up for our free series of videos and newsletters, come on over to PlayPiano.com and sign up for that. Thank you. Bye-bye for now.

Click on this link to watch this video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKGCZer-71E&feature=youtu.be

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Here’s a great little book on chords and chord progressions on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Chords-Chord-Progressions-Exciting-ebook/dp/B0076OUGDE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404158669&sr=1-1&keywords=piano+chords+duane+shinn

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