Creative Modulations

What is the coolest modulation (change in key) you have witnessed? Obviously this will be opinion oriented, but I'm still asking the question. Please make sure to give the reason you think it's so awesome! It could be something you came up with, it could be something from some famous composition, or whatever. Just what is the coolest modulation you've seen/heard?

If it's different, what is the most unique modulation you've heard? Did it sound good, or was it just different? Once again, opinion question, just let us know what you think. It won't be accepted by everyone, because that's not how opinions work, but it's always good to see things from another perspective.

Really interesting idea for a thread!!

One of my favourite modulations is when you play a minor chord, and then aftre 2 bars or so you modulate up a minor third, playing another minor chord.

eg. Am, Cm, etc

You can repeat it for ages and it's sound really nice.

Another cool modulation I heard in the Evanescence song 'Haunted'. The song is in Em, the modulation goes like this:

Em D Em B7 --> C#m B C#m G#7 C#m B C#m B7 --> Em

It works so brilliantly, and creates so much more tension when changing from the C#m key back to Em.

The way I guess it works is because B7 is the 7th of C#m, so it's 'allowed' to go to it.

There is a contemporary Christian choral song I've sang in some a choir I was in a couple years ago, and there's a duet that leads the song, tenor and soprano. Near the end of the song, at the end of a bridge and going back into the chorus, the song moves from the key of C major to Eb major. The key change is facilitated by the tenor singing a written high G (G4) which serves as the 5th in the original key, and the 3rd in the new key. I heard the same song done by another choir where the tenor soloist facilitated the key changed by singing a Bb(4) across the change. This gave me absolute goose-bumps just because the disonnance of the Bb(minor7 in the original key) which resolved into a clear and precise 5th in the new key was absolutely beautiful.

So often, especially in vocal music, you find a general fear of dissonance with less confident singers, so when a singer is persistent and confident in their dissonance and they have that absolute desire to prove to the listener that the note fits, and then it does, I love it every time. Which is why only the best sing can correctly sing Sondheim.

I've been studying the Swan of Tuonela because I have to write a paper on 19th century nationalism, and I think it's pretty brilliant how the rising cello line that appears 3 times in the intro enters a half step higher each time but nowhere within does it really seem like there is a key change. Sibelius' use of harmony (among other things) in that piece is pretty amazing.

Copland's key change into the coda of his Fanfare for the Common Man is another cool one where it just seems to follow into the drive of the piece rather than coming across as an "attempt to modulate"

dark dragon, what part of Haunted is that exactly?

dark dragon, what part of Haunted is that exactly?

From the 2nd chorus into the bridge/guitar solo...

Wanting me watching me, I can feel you pull me down

Saving me, raping me, watching me..... *key change*

You're familiar with Ev?

xD

Britten weaving his way seamlessly from somewhere to somewhere in most of his works but i am thinking particularly of the end of the Dirge in Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings.

Here is a cool way to modulate between minor keys a minor second apart:

e

F#

Bb 6/4

C7

f

And here's a minor third:

c

cdim

c 6/4

F7 (A in soprano, naturally)

eb

And HERE is one of the coolest modulations ever: (listen at 2:43), here's the tail end;

bb

c

c#

D

g!!!!

lolwtf ;)

Hm,

There are a lot modulations I like, but for example I like this one:

Gm > A

First you hear a melody in Gm, the line end with an # of the A chord. It really gives that magical, fairytale-like feeling. You guys really should listen to the Golden Compass soundtrack by Alexandre Desplat!

(could be Desplat uses other tonalities, but I often play in Gm :))

Danny Elfman also uses this modulation, but then in Dm, in his Batman theme. (Dm > E)

And HERE is one of the coolest modulations ever: (listen at 2:43), here's the tail end;

bb

c

c#

D

g!!!!

lolwtf ;)

Reminds me lots of a really strange (beautiful) chord progression from the legend of zelda...

Gm7 Am7 Bbm7 Cm7 C#m7 D#m7 Em7 F#m7 Gm7

Just goes round and round, modulating with every chord, and ending on the original.

wtf? I love music because of stuff like this.

Nice, I'm liking all the progressions. But especially that Haunted one, very nice. I only played it on the piano, now I need to hear it in context sometime.

And yay for chromaticism for modulation! That song (star wars ex.) is full of those, and they are awesome, I won't deny it.

Henk, I'm not familiar with the notation you used. What do you mean by a # in A chord? Does that mean the leading tone/ 7th?

Thanks guys for posting! This is really cool.

I myself am liking modulations into keys that have the same key signature. Using modes, it's really interesting stuff. Switching from one mode to the other and making it noticable is hard, but when it happens it's awesome! I should find some examples I guess and share, I'll get to that soon!

Nice, I'm liking all the progressions. But especially that Haunted one, very nice. I only played it on the piano, now I need to hear it in context sometime.

Hehe Glad you like it, it really is quite enjoyable ^_^

Here's the youtube link for the song... the modulation happens at 2:17, and i'm sure you'll be able to hear it anyways.

YouTube - Evanescence - Haunted FIRST READ

one of the most brilliant modulations i've ever heard

luna umegaki - esperanto, 2:45 - 2:51: YouTube - Megaman Zero 4: Esperanto

There is a contemporary Christian choral song I've sang in some a choir I was in a couple years ago, and there's a duet that leads the song, tenor and soprano. Near the end of the song, at the end of a bridge and going back into the chorus, the song moves from the key of C major to Eb major. The key change is facilitated by the tenor singing a written high G (G4) which serves as the 5th in the original key, and the 3rd in the new key. I heard the same song done by another choir where the tenor soloist facilitated the key changed by singing a Bb(4) across the change. This gave me absolute goose-bumps just because the disonnance of the Bb(minor7 in the original key) which resolved into a clear and precise 5th in the new key was absolutely beautiful.

So often, especially in vocal music, you find a general fear of dissonance with less confident singers, so when a singer is persistent and confident in their dissonance and they have that absolute desire to prove to the listener that the note fits, and then it does, I love it every time. Which is why only the best sing can correctly sing Sondheim.

Just out of curiosity, what is the song?

one of the most brilliant modulations i've ever heard

luna umegaki - esperanto, 2:45 - 2:51: YouTube - Megaman Zero 4: Esperanto

Man,the bit from 2:10 onwards is truely amazing, one of the most interesting progressions I've heard in a long time! Thanks a lot for that!!

Henk, I'm not familiar with the notation you used. What do you mean by a # in A chord? Does that mean the leading tone/ 7th?

Oh, sorry, it was a mistake in typing.. I meant: C# ;)

Oh, sorry, it was a mistake in typing.. I meant: C# ;)

Haha, ok, now it makes sense. Thanks:thumbsup: