TonalityGUIDE - basic tonal music theory and analysis for undergraduates
  Startcentre  |  Reference Guide  

Key and Modulation


introduction major and minor the circle of fifths ways of modulating spotting modulations

Introduction | Example One | Example Two | Example Three

All the chromatic chords discussed elsewhere on this site can be used without modulating. The extract below is in G major and - despite many accidentals - does not modulate at any point. The accidentals are instead the result of two chromatic chords as discussed in the table below the example.


the first three bars are an embellishment of a neapolitan sixth - this is the only triad based on the scale of Ab major and there is no perfect cadence in this key, so the music has not modulated
the fourth bar contains a diminished seventh chord - as discussed in chromatic chords chromatic chord often intensify rather than changes key, the resolution of the neapolitan onto V is intensified by the diminished seventh


The Tonality GUIDE tonal music analysis tool kit
information and orientation as you browse around TonalityGUIDE.com
chord identification
understanding voice-leading
style awareness

Top
Back
© Copyright Thomas Pankhurst


TonalityGUIDE - Tonal Harmony and Voiceleading - Table of Contents