Questions tagged [modulation]

For questions about changing key in the middle of a piece of music. Do not tag for the modulation audio processing effects. In that case use [effects], [effects-pedal], or [guitar-effects].

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In modulation between minor and Major, is V7 considered minor or Major?

In the little piece below, E7 can either by five chord of Major or harmonic minor. Is it identified as Major chord or harmonic minor chord? Or maybe it does not really matter?
Sean's user avatar
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2 answers
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Does modal interchange occur in an interspersed fashion within a phrase along with a parallel scale?

I am starting to read about modal interchange. Do modal interchange generally occur phrase by phrase in an orderly way (one phrase dedicated to this scale, and the next to another scale), or a little ...
Sean's user avatar
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2 votes
5 answers
963 views

How to modulate from Am to F#m?

I can't figure out what chords to use to get from Am to F#m. My modulation skills are awful, and I literally have no clue where to start. I can modulate to relative major/minor keys, but can't seem to ...
Alice's user avatar
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-1 votes
3 answers
113 views

Modulate from A minor to D major [duplicate]

Can you recommend a smooth way to modulate from A minor to D major? I know a way to modulate down a fifth between major/major, but cannot really apply it here. My ideas would be modulating to C major ...
AGuyCalledGerald's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
162 views

Tonal or not ? Modulation or not?

I'm in the process of learning the tonal music composing. For the sake of an exercise, I wrote this little Ländler in Cmaj moving to Amaj, then to Amin and then back to Cmaj. While I find the harmony ...
lvr123's user avatar
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1 answer
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How Do These Decorative Chords Contribute to Diatonic Modulation in Aldwell and Schachter's Example?

I'm studying diatonic modulation via example (e) in Unit 26 of "Harmony & Voice Leading" by Aldwell and Schachter and need some clarification. The progression moves from an F major to an ...
286642's user avatar
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1 vote
4 answers
224 views

How should I comprehend Modal Mixture?

I’m studying the concept of modal mixture and there’s one thing that I immediately got curious about. Supposedly, the majority of POP music (rock, hip hop, r&b, country, etc) is a mixture of Major ...
Lecifer's user avatar
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3 votes
6 answers
2k views

Explain chord progression

I'm just starting learning musical theory and trying to grasp chord progression and modulation concept. I was watching youtube video about evanescence chord progression (C-Em-C-Em), and tried to come ...
Archeg's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
174 views

Analysis of a few bars in Bach's BWV 895

The overall key of this piece in A minor (it is Bach's prelude from Prelude and Fugue in A minor BWV 895). Here is what I understood : At the end of bar 6, there seems to be a change of key: this ...
Lava's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
184 views

Nomenclature for modulations

I have noticed that sometimes the music plays a tone, goes up a few semitones with it and then that last tone in the walk is treated like the fifth in the new key it modulates to. Sometimes the tone ...
Emil's user avatar
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5 answers
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If there is a double sharp on a note, does that mean the piece has modulated?

I'm currently writing a 32-bar free composition for my music exam coming up soon (I'm allowed to get help and advice on it, so this isn't cheating lol). It's in F# major and I'd like to modulate to D# ...
mza's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
476 views

How to modulate from e Phrygian to c minor

I’m trying to write a metal song so I would like to know any suggestions for a dark or melodic modulation from e Phrygian to C minor. Preferably on guitar thanks.
Guy29756's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
165 views

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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5 votes
2 answers
282 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 ...
Not Legato's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
722 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 ...
OprenStein's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
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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 ...
Scott Crooks's user avatar
7 votes
6 answers
1k 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 ...
Corvus's user avatar
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4 votes
3 answers
613 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 ...
user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
129 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 ...
user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
403 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
76 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 (...
Shir Nishri's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
427 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 ...
j a's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
246 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 ...
Antonie's user avatar
  • 29
8 votes
4 answers
797 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 ...
Anthony Alba's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
57 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.
A Lee's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
615 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. ...
guss2222's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
320 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 ...
Rich's user avatar
  • 33
5 votes
3 answers
164 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 ...
Robin Andrews's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
81 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, ...
Robin Andrews's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
257 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 ...
Pladask's user avatar
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7 votes
3 answers
1k 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 ...
Daarwin's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
167 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 ...
Matthew Jeon's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
235 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 ...
teachmetonight's user avatar
6 votes
6 answers
369 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, ...
Caters's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
415 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 ...
user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
225 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 ...
RAMMOHAN MODUPALLI's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
1k 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 ...
lbbl59's user avatar
  • 364
1 vote
3 answers
90 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 ...
LeoAn's user avatar
  • 541
2 votes
4 answers
295 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 ...
Gregory's user avatar
  • 21
4 votes
4 answers
467 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 ...
user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
466 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 ...
Mason_dns's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
2k views

Modulating a minor 3rd [duplicate]

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?
Cristian M.'s user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
82 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 ...
João Mendes's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
188 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 ...
286642's user avatar
  • 1,366
3 votes
1 answer
129 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 ...
AGuyCalledGerald's user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
584 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 &...
286642's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
138 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 ...
Kevin Sun's user avatar
  • 233
1 vote
3 answers
212 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 ...
Kevin Sun's user avatar
  • 233
0 votes
1 answer
341 views

How to modulate Phrygian to Harmonic Minor? [duplicate]

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 ...
Nabla's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
95 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 ...
Kevin Sun's user avatar
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