Modulations

Kaii Lee had combined several piano/keyboard method books and her life long music learning books to create this sequential music theory study for this website. This page is about the understanding of Modulations. By clicking on the other colored links at the bottom of this page, the other music theory topics can be found easily.

For more information, please contact Kaii directly: info@kafm.net

Common-Chord Modulation | Enharmonic Modulation | Common-Tone Modulation | Chromatic Modulation

Modulation means to shift music from one key, or tonal center, to another. This includes Common-Chord (Pivot Point) Modulation, Enharmonic Modulation, Common-Tone Modulation, and Chromatic Modulation. The Common-Chord Modulation was widely used during the Western Classical music. A comparison below shows how easily the chords can be used for modulation, as long as the Common Chords are being used as the Pivot Point. In this case, the red-checked chords can be used as Pivot Point for a Common-Chord Modulation.

A comparison of chords in Keys of B Flat and E Flat Major

Here is a sample of Common Chord Modulation.

Common Chord Modulation

Here is an example from Chopin's C Minor Prelude.

Chopin's Prelude in C Minor Common Chord Modulation

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An Enharmonic Modulation happens when a chord is written enharmonically as a chord in a new key, and then continues in the new key. There are two main types of enharmonic modulations: Dominant Seventh (Augmented Sixth) and Diminished Seventh. The red-colored notes are the root of the diminished seventh chords.

Enharmonic Modulation

The following example is taken from Chopin's Prelude, Op.28, No.15. This prelude started in the key of D-flat major and by using the dominant, "A-flat", Chopin had modulated the music into the key of C-sharp minor, and made the dominant, "G-sharp", as the continuous raindrop pitch.

Chopin's "Raindrop" Prelude with Enharmonic Modulation

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The Common-Tone Modulation uses a sustained or repeated pitch from the old key as a bridge between it and the new key. Usually, this pitch will be held alone before the music continues in the new key to show the relevancy. The most frequently used function in Common Tone Modulation is the movements between parallel major and minor keys. The sample below shows the possibilities between D Major and D Minor can be modulated easily.

Common-Tone Modulation

In his Piano Sonata in C Major, K. 545, Mozart modulated between G Major and G Minor easily.

Mozart's Sonata in C Major, K.545, with Common Tone Modulation

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A Chromatic Modulation occurs at the point of a chromatic progression, that involves the chromatic inflection of one or more tones whose letter name remains the same, however, with an accidental. Chromatic Modulations are often between keys which are not related. Most of the Pop songs use Chromatic Modulation close to the end of the song by raising the finale a half step, or a whole step, higher. In the following song, the key of D Flat Major was modulated to key of D Major between measures 12 and 13. In this case, the song was raised by a half step.

Chromatic Modulation

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The next topic in this Music Theory site is all about the "Transposition." You may want to review the previous pages. Thank you for reading!

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For more information, please contact Kaii directly: info@kafm.net