PostalJives Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hi,
>
> What are some different ways to modulate besides
> using the "pivot" chord method? Also, what are
> some of the more common modulations? I've heard
> loads of music where the tonic will modulate to
> something like a bVI in a major key, and it sounds
> really nice.
Most common modulation, by far:
Tonic key to Dominant key
next, probably
Tonic key to relative minor key, or minor Tonic to relative Major key
next probably, modulation to the key of the Subdominant (but always common in pieces with Trio sections).
Modulations to Closely Related keys are more common. These are keys which differ by no more than one accidental, thus the closely related keys to C Major are:
C: Am, G, Em, F, Dm
(those also happen to be all the chords except the diminished one in a major key - same holds true for minor).
Remember, even though the key signature does not change in C to Am, it's called a key change because the TONIC changes.
C to Cm is a CHANGE OF MODE, NOT a modulation or change of key, though many people say that today.
Also in CPP music, you modulate to the KEY of the NOTE, not the CHORD of the note, so in Cm, when you modulate to the key of the Dominant, you modulate to G MINOR, not G major.
There are Four Basic Types of Modulation (two being subsets of the others):
Common Chord Modulation (uses Pivot chord)
Enharmonic Modulation - a special type of Common Chord Modulation where the common chord can be interpreted as being a different type of chord in each key (used with V7=Ger+6, dim chords, and rarely, + chords).
Common Tone Modulation - more common when the keys are not closely related, such as C Major to Ab Major - they both have the C note in common, so that note may be used for the modulation.
Phrase Modulation - what we often refer to as a key change today. You're in one key, and then pow, you're in another key. Also called Direct Modulation - though in CPP music they most often happen when one phrase ends (in the first key) and the other phrase begins (in the new key) thus the Phrase Modulation name.
Sequential Modulation - a specialized form of Direct Modulation where the phrases are related by a musical pattern that repeats in sequence.
Linear or Melodic Modulation - happens when a solo unaccompanied line gradually introduces chromatic notes to change the key.
HTH,
Steve