What is a modulation?
A modulation is when the music changes from one key to another and is perhaps one of the strongest ways of creating emotional variety in a piece. Modulation can occur in a variety of ways - sudden, gradual, distant, close, temporary or long-term (these will be explored in detail in later sections).
Modulations will often be indicated by a change in the key signature, but this doesn’t always happen.
A piece may modulate several times, though it is most common to change keys just once in a piece. Keys have an effect on the organization of a piece of music - sections in different keys will usually give us a clear indication of the form (binary, ternary, etc.).
Modulations will often be indicated by a change in the key signature, but this doesn’t always happen.
A piece may modulate several times, though it is most common to change keys just once in a piece. Keys have an effect on the organization of a piece of music - sections in different keys will usually give us a clear indication of the form (binary, ternary, etc.).
Common forms and key structures
Two of the most common forms are binary and ternary. The modulation almost always aligns with a change in section, giving a balanced variety to the composition.
Why does it matter?
Modulations occur in virtually every piece of music. Understanding them is not just a process of labeling and identifying, but finding the meaning or purpose of the key change. Why change from a major key to a minor key? The primary reason for key changes is to change the mood and create more variety of expression.
In the simple example below, note the key change at the third line and how that should be played much differently to the first two lines. Can you identify the form of this piece?
Examples of Modulation in Lagrima
Can you identify the form of this piece?
Can you identify the form of this piece?
Examples of Modulation in Carcassi Etude 7, op. 60
Can you identify the form of this piece?
Can you identify the form of this piece?
Note that this example does not indicate a key change by the key signature!
