Which term denotes a sustained or repeated tone, usually in the bass, over which harmonies move?

Which term denotes a sustained or repeated tone, usually in the bass, over which harmonies move?

• A. Drone
• B. Ostinato
• C. Organ Point/Pedal Point
• D. Pedal Point

Answer: (C)

A sustained pitch in the bass that underpins changing harmonies is known as an organ point or pedal point. This device keeps one note sounding while the other voices move through different chords, creating a sense of tension and release as the harmony shifts above the sustained pitch. A drone is a constant background tone, but it isn’t necessarily the harmonic anchor that guides the chord changes. An ostinato is a repeated pattern, not a single held pitch. Pedal point emphasizes the idea of a held bass note anchoring the harmony, and organ point is the broader term for the same concept, often used when the sustained tone is in the bass. So the best term for this behavior is organ point/pedal point.

A sustained pitch in the bass that underpins changing harmonies is known as an organ point or pedal point. This device keeps one note sounding while the other voices move through different chords, creating a sense of tension and release as the harmony shifts above the sustained pitch. A drone is a constant background tone, but it isn’t necessarily the harmonic anchor that guides the chord changes. An ostinato is a repeated pattern, not a single held pitch. Pedal point emphasizes the idea of a held bass note anchoring the harmony, and organ point is the broader term for the same concept, often used when the sustained tone is in the bass. So the best term for this behavior is organ point/pedal point.