A pedal point, also called a pedal note, is a note that has a duration of several measures. Pedal points are most commonly used near the end of a work in order to help to help create tension and a sense of climax. They are usually in the bass (the lowest notes), either the tonic or the dominant tones. A double pedal point is two pedal tones played simultaneously, and an inverted pedal point is one that is not in the bass and often in the highest part.