They are called `` pedal '' notes because they are often heard in organ music where the player puts one of his feet on a pedal note and holds it there . The term comes from the organ for its ability to sustain a note indefinitely and the tendency for such notes to be played on an organ 's pedal keyboard . The pedal keyboard on an organ is played by the feet ; as such , the organist can hold down a pedal point for lengthy periods while both hands perform higher-register music on the manual keyboards .