Lesson 33 Additional modulation techniques
Part I - Modulation using Mode Mixture
Using borrowed chords lends itself nicely to modulation. As you know, a scale is also called a mode. Using borrowed chords to modulate is a great way to achieve a quick modulation over the course of one or two chords.
Common chords through modal modulation
C Major Chord spelling F minor
I C E G V
ii D F A
ii°(B) D F Ab
iii E G B
IV F A C i
iv(B) F Ab C
V G B D
vi A C E
VI(B) Ab C Eb III
vii° B D F
When we use borrowed chords as a point of modulation, it is easy to get from the original tonic key to the new tonic as demonstrated in figure 1.
Using borrowed chords lends itself nicely to modulation. As you know, a scale is also called a mode. Using borrowed chords to modulate is a great way to achieve a quick modulation over the course of one or two chords.
Common chords through modal modulation
C Major Chord spelling F minor
I C E G V
ii D F A
ii°(B) D F Ab
iii E G B
IV F A C i
iv(B) F Ab C
V G B D
vi A C E
VI(B) Ab C Eb III
vii° B D F
When we use borrowed chords as a point of modulation, it is easy to get from the original tonic key to the new tonic as demonstrated in figure 1.
Fig.1 Modulation using borrowed chords
Listen:
Part II - Modulation using Neapolitan triads
It is entirely possible to have a secondary dominant of the Neapolitan chord and use it as the new dominant triad to modulate to a key that is a half-step away from the original tonic. This is demonstrated in figure 2.
Fig.2 secondary dominant of the Neapolitan triad
Listen:
Here is the full modulation from C minor to D flat minor using the Neapolitan triad
Fig.3 modulation using the Neapolitan triad
Listen:
Part III - Modulation Using Common Tones
Using this method, it is possible to modulate between two keys that are foreign, or not closely related. Such as keys that are a third apart i.e. C Major (0 sharps or flats) and E Major (Four Sharps).
Here the tonality will shift around a single common tone. Instead of looking for a common chord between two keys, the modulation will shift around a single pitch that appears in a chord from each key.
You can see that the common tone between the two chords os the F# in the tenor.
Fig.4 Common tone modulation
Listen:
The starting key is A minor and the ending key is F# Major. These two keys do not share a single diatonic chord. Often in common tone modulation, there will be chromatic voice leading in one or more voices.
