Music A-Level
Dominant pedal
What Dominant pedal means in Music A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of Dominant pedal
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Reference: AQA
Sustains the fifth degree of the scale, creating harmonic tension and a strong sense of anticipation, effective in pre-choruses or bridges before a resolution back to the tonic.
Sustains the fifth degree of the scale, creating harmonic tension and expectation as it pulls strongly towards a resolution.
Uses the fifth degree, typically building tension before resolving to the tonic, such as in a cadenza's preparation.
Topics that use Dominant pedal
- Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (compulsory) - Musical elements (AQA A-Level)
- Area of study 2: Pop music - Musical elements (AQA A-Level)
- Area of study 3: Music for media - Musical elements (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- Harmonic tension
- Instrumental techniques
- Sonority
- Syncopation
- Tonic pedal
- Articulation
- Chord nomenclature
- Cross-rhythm
Using Dominant pedal in the exam
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