Modulation
MODULATION is the process of changing from the ‘home’ key to another key within a piece
Modulations articulates the piece and makes the piece more interesting.
The most common modulations are modulations from the ‘home’ key (called the tonic key in music theory) to the subdominant key, the dominant key or the relative minor key.
Modulation from the tonic key to the subdominant key is common because the key signatures of the two keys are similar; the subdominant key only has one more flattened note than the tonic key.
Modulation from the tonic key to the dominant key is common because the key signatures of the two keys are similar; the dominant key only has one more sharpened note than the tonic key.
(Major Scales and Key Signatures)
When modulating from the tonic key to the subdominant key or the dominant key you use the note the new key has but the tonic key does not.
Look at this example:
Modulations articulates the piece and makes the piece more interesting.
The most common modulations are modulations from the ‘home’ key (called the tonic key in music theory) to the subdominant key, the dominant key or the relative minor key.
Modulation from the tonic key to the subdominant key is common because the key signatures of the two keys are similar; the subdominant key only has one more flattened note than the tonic key.
Modulation from the tonic key to the dominant key is common because the key signatures of the two keys are similar; the dominant key only has one more sharpened note than the tonic key.
(Major Scales and Key Signatures)
When modulating from the tonic key to the subdominant key or the dominant key you use the note the new key has but the tonic key does not.
Look at this example:
The first line is in C major, which is the tonic key (home key).
In the second line, the piece MODULATES to G major, the dominant key by using an F sharp in the last bar.
This is because F sharp is a note G major, the new key has but C major, the original key doesn't .
The last line stays G major.
In the second line, the piece MODULATES to G major, the dominant key by using an F sharp in the last bar.
This is because F sharp is a note G major, the new key has but C major, the original key doesn't .
The last line stays G major.
Modulation from the tonic key to the relative minor key is common because the key signatures of the tonic key and the relative minor key are exactly the same. (Minor Scales and Other Scales)
Look at this example: