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A pedal tone is defined as a held or repeated note around which other notes change or move. When played on the guitar, the pedal tone is usually the tonic, or root note. Typically, but not always, it is played on a lower, open string. In classical music, this type of idea is called pedal point.

I think it is fair to say that it is used most commonly in 80's Metal.

Here are some well known examples.

Bon Jovi - Raise Your Hands (Slippery When Wet, 1986)

Motley Crue - Looks That Kill (Shout at the Devil, 1983)

Motley Crue - Wild Side (Girls, Girls, Girls, 1987)

Motley Crue - Shout at the Devil (Shout at the Devil, 1983)

Motley Crue - Piece of Your Action (Too Fast for Love, 1981)

Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Know (Blizzard of Ozz, 1980)

Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train (Blizzard of Ozz, 1980)

Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon (Bark at the Moon, 1983)

Ozzy Osbourne - Suicide Solution (Blizzard of Ozz, 1980)

Ozzy Osbourne - Shot in the Dark (The Ultimate Sin, 1986)

Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin (The Ultimate Sin, 1986) DROP D TUNING

Ratt - Back for More (Out of the Cellar, 1984)

Ratt - Lack of Communication (Out of the Cellar, 1984) DROP D TUNING

Ratt - Lay It Down (Invasion of Your Privacy, 1985) DROP D TUNING

Ratt - Round and Round (Out of the Cellar, 1984)

Ratt - You're In Love (Invasion of Your Privacy, 1985) DROP D TUNING

Dio - Don't Talk to Strangers (Holy Diver, 1983)

Dio - Sacred Heart (Sacred Heart, 1985)

Dio - Stand Up and Shout (Holy Diver, 1983)

Dio - We Rock (The Last in Line, 1984)

Whitesnake - Give Me All Your Love Tonight (Whitesnake, 1987)

Whitesnake - Slip of the Tongue (Slip of the Tongue, 1989)

Whitesnake - Children of the Night (Whitesnake, 1987)

Whitesnake - Bad Boys (Whitesnake, 1987)

Dokken - Breaking the Chains (Breaking the Chains, 1983)

Dokken - It's Not Love (Under Lock and Key, 1985)

Dokken - Kiss of Death (Back for the Attack, 1987)

Dokken - Unchain the Night (Under Lock and Key, 1985)

Queensryche - I Don't Believe in Love (Operation: Mindcrime, 1988)

Michael Schenker Group - Are You Ready to Rock (MSG, 1981)

Michael Schenker Group - Armed and Ready (Michael Schenker Group, 1980)

Bon Jovi - Let it Rock (Slippery When Wet, 1986)

Iron Maiden - 2 Minutes to Midnight (Powerslave, 1984)

Bad Company - Rock Steady (Bad Company, 1974)

Van Halen - And the Cradle Will Rock (Women and Children First, 1980)

Van Halen - I'm the One (Van Halen, 1978)

Van Halen - Panama (1984, 1984)

Van Halen - Unchained (Fair Warning, 1981)

Ted Nugent - Cat Scratch Fever (Cat Scratch Fever, 1977)

Ted Nugent - Dog Eat Dog (Free-for-All, 1976)

Ted Nugent - Motor City Madhouse (Ted Nugent, 1975)

Ted Nugent - Stranglehold (Ted Nugent, 1975)

Scorpions - I Can't Explain (Best of Rockers & Ballads, 1989)

Scorpions - The Zoo (Animal Magnetism, 1980)

Pink Floyd - Run Like Hell (The Wall, 1979)

Judas Priest - Electric Eye (Screaming for Vengeance, 1982)

Judas Priest - Heading Out to the Highway (Point of Entry, 1981)

Judas Priest - Hell Bent for Leather (Killing Machine, 1978)

Judas Priest - Ram It Down (Ram It Down, 1988)

Judas Priest - Some Heads Are Gonna Roll (Defenders of the Faith, 1984)

ZZ Top - Tush (Fandango!, 1975)

White Lion - Hungry (Pride, 1987)

ZZ Top - Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers (Tres Hombres, 1973)