Questions tagged [modulation]

For questions about changing key in the middle of a piece of music. Do not tag for the effect of modulation.

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Modulation type

what type of modulation moves to the relative minor of the parallel major? For example....The key of b min moving to the key of g# min. g# minor is the relative minor of B Major which is the parallel ...
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4 votes
2 answers
157 views

How exactly does Bach modulate from Dmin to Gmin here?

In 'Von den Stricken meiner Sünden' from the St. Johannes passion. Ignoring the strange B.C. realisation (why all the accidentals and intervals not matching the figuration?), I'm very confused about ...
4 votes
3 answers
254 views

How is modulation to the dominant achieved?

In any key, there are two adjacent keys to work with; The subdominant and the dominant. Let's assume that we are in a major key. Modulation to the subdominant is easy. The leading tone is a vital part ...
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3 votes
3 answers
579 views

What is the musical term for a song that uses a higher key for its last chorus?

While listening to a playlist of music from the 1980s / 1990s / early 2000s, I noticed that many of the songs have a pattern where the last chorus is sung in a much higher key than the previous ...
7 votes
6 answers
890 views

How can I explain/understand a flattened 2nd in a minor melody

My 10yo daughter (~grade 4 piano level) likes composing her own tunes, and then we'll discuss them and expand on them. Recently she composed a melody that appears to be in c# minor, except that every ...
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4 votes
3 answers
597 views

Can a diatonic melody in one key sound like it is in another key?

Here is a simple melody I composed in C# minor but while listening to it closely, the part notated in red seems to me like the music has actually moved across to G# minor. Is it weird to say this ...
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2 votes
4 answers
82 views

is an augmented second in the soprano avoided in 4 part harmony even when it occurs in a modulation?

In this chord progression I wanted to modulate to the minor subdominant (Em to Am) but instead of just using a V7/iv I wanted to see if I could arrive to the V/iv in different ways and perhaps by ...
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1 vote
4 answers
99 views

Whats the smoothest way to modulate in minor to a neighboring key?

I am writing in Cm and want to modulate smoothly to Gm and then smoothly back to Cm. Can someone please tell me what is the best way to do this. I see that it is the 4th degree in the scale that must ...
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1 vote
0 answers
58 views

Half step modulations in music [closed]

I'm looking for cllasical/Jazz music pieces with half step (semitone) modulations. I'm assuming that this type of modulation could appear in the form of enharmonic modulation- when the pivot chord (...
2 votes
2 answers
178 views

Modulating to new keys in blues

I found many threads and YouTube videos on modulation in general, but not specific to blues. I’m getting pretty good at the basic I-IV-V progression in blues, playing some old delta-style or BBking ...
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2 votes
2 answers
149 views

Question regarding "Dark Necessities" by Red Hot Chili Peppers

The song is written in C-minor. This, to me, means that most of the music will be playable on a E-flat major scale. I understand that not all chords will necesarily be found in this scale (borrowed ...
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8 votes
4 answers
778 views

Explain to a pop pianist: GECE to GC#A#C# alberti bass transition in K.545 2nd movt

As a pop pianist I'm trying to understand the logic in the alberti bass modulation that sounds beautiful and "right" but the notes seem way off the diatonic scale of G maj. The key signature ...
1 vote
1 answer
41 views

To what key does Dvorak Humoresque #7 modulate at the Piu Lento? [closed]

The melodic part of Humoresque number 7, beginning at m. 25, changes to another key. What key is it. The main body is G flat major.
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2 votes
2 answers
563 views

Can a melodic minor chord be a pivot chord?

The image above shows, from Bach 371 Chorales, No. 3 "Ach Gott vom Himmel sieh darein" in E Minor. I think my analysis is totally wrong, but I just wrote it down on the image to try it out. ...
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3 votes
2 answers
297 views

How do I Modulate a scale that doesn’t exist?

So I’m composing a song with “3” scales, G harmonic minor, A#/Bb Major and a set of notes that I can’t seem to find a scale for. C-D-D#-F#-G-A#-B I love how it sounds but don’t know much about music ...
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5 votes
3 answers
151 views

Can a Round Modulate?

I've been messing around with simple 2-part rounds recently, and also with modulation. The question occurred to me, can a round modulate? Initially I though not, since it would involve having parts in ...
1 vote
0 answers
71 views

Full examples of modulating chord sequences [closed]

I understand much of the theory of modulation, but I want examples to model. Most of the articles I can find show excerpts of songs or particular modulations, but not the progressions for whole songs, ...
9 votes
1 answer
151 views

Unnecessarily convoluted analysis in Reger's modulations?

I am reading Reger's book of modulations, and his analysis does not seem to me to be the most consistent. This example (No. 72, from a minor to F♯ Major) comes across as particularly odd: Here is the ...
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7 votes
3 answers
883 views

Theories on what key to modulate to [duplicate]

Are there any traditional ideas on what key to change to and also how to do it, to get a certain effect or make it sound good? I know the general rule is that everything works as long as it sounds ...
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2 votes
3 answers
159 views

Is it mulitple Key change?

Zion. T - Snow Chord progression: Am7 - D7sus4 D7 - Gmaj7 - E7sus4 E7 Am7 - D7sus4 D7 - Gmaj7 - E7sus4 E7 Am7 Bm7 - Cmaj7 D7(9) - Gmaj7 - Fmaj9 Fdim7 (Interlude:) Cm9 ...
3 votes
3 answers
228 views

How do I recognize notes in other key?

I have a relative pitch and I'm a beginner of jazz improvisation. I have a problem in improvisation. I used to follow the key when chord progression of key changed. (like 'all the things you are' and ...
6 votes
6 answers
342 views

How can I modulate the distance of a tritone using 3 secondary dominant chords?

So, I have been composing this "Requiem for String Quartet" on and off for a few weeks now. I call it a Requiem because of its dramatic arc through lamenting melancholy, painful harshness, ...
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2 votes
2 answers
186 views

Why does the progression I - vi get labeled I 5-6 in my harmony book?

When discussing modulation my book describes the 5-6 technique and here it gives an example when discussing pivot chords. I dont get why the C to Am progression is labelled C 5-6? Ok if the bass ...
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2 votes
1 answer
161 views

How to correlate between FM CV input on VCO and the FM Modulation Index?

The frequency modulation theory revolves around Carrier Frequency (fc), Modulating Frequency (fm) and the Modulation index (β). The position and amplitude of sidebands depends on these factors. But ...
6 votes
3 answers
986 views

Can you tonicize to a chord that's not on the original key?

I had a discussion with a few people on Chopin's Nocturne in B-flat minor. We couldn't reach an agreement and I'm curious how people would analyze it. In the middle section of the piece (which is in ...
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1 vote
3 answers
85 views

Soloing over modulation: a specific case

Consider the following chord progression: G F#m G F#m G F# ...going on with G again... 1 measure each chord The melody is in key of D (at least until F#) Soloing over this progression requires me ...
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2 votes
4 answers
234 views

How to modulate decisively and finally between distant keys?

I am sketching out a sonata, the first since the disaster of a sonata I wrote about a year ago, and after sketching the Intro and the Coda of the 2nd movement, the intro is in B-flat major (the key ...
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4 votes
4 answers
416 views

Reversing the resolution of a minor key's tritone

The tritone is between ^2 and ^6 in minor but from what I understand, if resolved inward to scale degreees ^3 and ^5 it will sound like the mediant chord is now the new tonic. But what about if you ...
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4 votes
2 answers
153 views

What are some techniques for changing scale convincingly? [duplicate]

I am having trouble changing scales smoothly when composing, it always seems that the two parts are not connected and the change is sudden. I want to know some techniques so I can do that convincingly ...
7 votes
4 answers
1k views

Modulating a minor 3rd

I want to modulate from a chorus that's in F# minor to a verse which is in D# minor. Do you know a good (preferably short) chord progression/transition for this modulation?
2 votes
2 answers
71 views

Is there a term or phrase to describe a tune that always stays in the same key but shifts modes throughout?

Teaching myself modes, I'm writing a short piece for string quartet that always holds to the same key, but starts out in locrian and ends in lydian, going through all the modes, brightening up and ...
2 votes
2 answers
173 views

How to smoothly re-establish original tonality?

In this post, you all helped me modulate from the original tonality of C major to a new tonality of Bb Major. Now, I am trying to find my way back to the original key. This is what the chords are ...
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3 votes
1 answer
98 views

What is the use of metric modulation?

This is an extract of Elliott Carters piece Eight Etudes and Fantasy, Fantasy, mm. 16pp. Metric modulation is used to move to a higher tempo in measure 3. But why does Carter not just write the ...
3 votes
4 answers
563 views

Does this modulation make sense?

I am wondering how to assess the following modulation from C major to Bb major according to rules of traditional harmony: I threw the modulation together without thinking about it much, and thought &...
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1 vote
2 answers
113 views

Modulating from Bbm to Cm in Sword Art Online - Swordland (Main Theme)

I was wondering how the modulation in Sword Art Online - Swordland (Main Theme) from the Bbm in measure 19 to the Cm in measure 27. Particularly I'm curious about why does the B chord in measure 23 ...
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1 vote
3 answers
176 views

Modulation Techniques in 'Sword Art Online - Swordland (Main Theme)'

In Sword Art Online - Swordland (Main Theme) (https://musescore.com/user/13887436/scores/4364901), it goes through a series of modulations and was wondering how the modulations work and how they ...
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0 votes
1 answer
227 views

How to modulate Phrygian to Harmonic Minor?

Is there any formulation to switch from Phrygian mode to Harmonic minor in same key. Like from A Phrygian to A Harmonic Minor. What I thought so far? A Phrygian Notes: A Bb C D E F G A A Harmonic ...
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1 vote
1 answer
91 views

How does Modulation in Spirited Away - Name of Life work?

I was wondering if there is any harmonic reasoning and mechanism in play with the modulation from C major to Eb major in measure 103? The only "logic" that I can think of is that in previous ...
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2 votes
2 answers
220 views

How does ADT differ from the Chorus (modulation) effect?

What are the main differences between Automatic double tracking (like what the beatles used on vocals) and the Chorus (modulation) effect?
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7 votes
4 answers
893 views

When does a jazz tune actually modulate?

I am getting into Jazz harmonic analysis, and have watched a few analysis videos to start me off. I will be referring to the analysis that one youtuber (Justinguitarsongs) has made of the tune 'Misty',...
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5 votes
8 answers
4k views

Why does G-Major work well within a C-Minor progression?

I have been playing and composing Piano for many years, but never actually learnt any music theory! So, recently, I started reading up and comparing with things I've written to understand the theory ...
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3 votes
1 answer
83 views

Is it unusual to stack modulation effects like chorus/phasers/doublers?

I mean have a vocal track with two different types of doublers on it stacked in series. Usually I wouldnt do this but it sounds ok to me. Is it very unusual (or amateurish) to stack modulated delay ...
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1 vote
1 answer
70 views

Help with modulations identification: where they occur, and writing Roman numerals

I'm currently a full-time music education major and need a lot of help on a project. The project is over Mozart's Fantasia in c minor, KV 475. We are to answer 20 questions along with writing all of ...
3 votes
4 answers
350 views

What kind of modulation is this?

everyone. I'm new to this forum and learning music theory by self, so excuse/correct me if I'm using wrong terms or my question is unclear. I have a piece E minor that I'm learning right now and I was ...
1 vote
1 answer
336 views

Can we understand subdominant/dominant chord functions in terms of them being tonics of other keys?

Does anyone know a textbook or some music theorist explaining subdominant/dominant chord functions in terms of the two chords being the tonics in subdominant/dominant keys? Background: I was thinking ...
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3 votes
2 answers
130 views

Question about tempo markings on timpani part

I’m playing a timpani part in 4/4 at 132 BPM. 4 measures into the excerpt, there is a “dotted quarter note equals quarter note” marking. In this new section (still in 4/4), there are still eighth ...
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2 votes
2 answers
448 views

How to think about this moment from BWV 816

I've been tasked by a textbook I'm going through to make a harmonic analysis of the G major "Gavotte" from BWV816, "The French Suite" specifically minding a handful of questions ...
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9 votes
7 answers
2k views

Can the same song be written in a minor key and major key with the progression written differently?

quick question that's been bugging me lately. When it comes to a songs key specifically major and minor relatives- is it correct to say it can be written in two different keys with the same ...
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1 vote
3 answers
1k views

Why does the relation between E major and Ab major feel especially connected?

I find that whenever I improvise in E major, I naturally move back and forth between E major and Ab major key areas. It's like E major and Ab major feel especially connected in a way that say Bb major ...
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0 votes
2 answers
114 views

Have I successfully/legitimately modulated?

Hi guys! Just wondering if I've done this properly. We are newly in Csharp minor from the relative major E major, and we need to finish in the home key- F sharp minor. As it stands, I have written the ...
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