pedal tone
A sustained or repeated note, usually in the bass, held through changing harmonies above
In Depth
A pedal tone (or pedal point) creates tension by remaining static while the upper voices move through chords that are consonant and dissonant against it. The most common pedal is on the dominant, building expectation for the tonic; tonic pedals often appear at the end of a piece, grounding the final harmonic activity. An inverted pedal is a sustained note in the upper voice. Bach's organ fugues frequently conclude with extended tonic pedals over which the final cadential harmonics unfold.
The term pedal comes from the organ, where the lowest notes are played by the feet on the pedalboard — literally a note held by the pedal.