Asked • 05/07/19

How to determine what key changes are appropriate?

In the month or so until my band get back together I've been working on writing some new material, and want to try and expand how complex my songs are. I apologise if there are a lot of questions - I'll gladly split them up if needs be. Say I've got a nice little riff/idea in D minor. I'm happy that the relative major of that is F major, how modes fit into a major/natural minor scale, the tonality of the various degrees of the scale, and the concept of the circle of fifths. I also appreciate that a song need not necessarily change key to have a very different sound.I'm looking at complete changes of key to try and bring a new direction to a song outside of these ideas. So ultimately, can someone explain: - What keys can I change to from a given key? - What is the theory behind the potential key change? - The word modulation seems to by used a lot in similar circumstances. What is the difference between a key change and a modulation?The more detail the better, as I want to understand the theory behind what I'm doing for myself rather than just follow rules blindly.

Alden J.

Whoa. Lots here. As for the difference between key change and modulation --- they are synonymous. But "modulation" usually implies that one or more "pivot chords" --- chords common to both keys --- and maybe others, have intervened between key 1 and key 2. For instance, modulating from C to D. Well, the G chord is common to both, as is the E minor chord. So a modulation might go: D, G, E minor, E major (Dominant of the Dominant of D), A Major seventh (Dominant of D), D. On the other hand you could just end a phrase in C and start the next one in D. That would be a key change without the politenesses of modulation. I don't know what your question means, "What is the theory behind the potential key change?" There is a beautiful moment in Schubert's C Major Quintet, when he wants to introduce the second theme of the first movement: He comes to a stopping point, plays a couple of G chords. Then cello 2, up high, against a held G in cello 1, moves down G - F#, F natural, to Eb; and the other instruments join in on an Eb triad. It's like magic. No theory! There are other examples I could cite. You might look at songs by Hugo Wolf to see some really nutty key changes. A lot depends on voice movement. In the Schubert, he leads the ear G - F# -F - Eb. He doesn't just go from the G triad to the Eb. I think you'll find in Hugo Wolf that the movement of some line, top or interior, leads us from harmony to harmony. I realize that you are not writing like Schubert or Wolf, but that's the territory I know best. The advice I give myself and anybody who asks is, Look at music you admire, and steal their secrets. Good luck!
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12/18/19

1 Expert Answer

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Carlos S. answered • 04/04/20

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