How To Modulate From Key To Key
How To Modulate From Key To Key
Good morning. This is Duane and today I’d like to talk about the subject of modulation. Modulation means to get from one key to another key. In other words, if you’re playing in the key of C [Duane playing piano] and you want to play it in a different key, let’s say you’re playing for a singer and she wants it up a little bit so that’s the process of getting from C, up to D flat is called modulation. You have to know how to modulate from key to key so that you can play in the key the singer needs.
Transposing is different. Transposing is related, but it’s different. It means to take a song that’s in one key and play it in another key. So it’s related, but modulation is the process of getting from one key to another key, and so it’s a really simple process because what you need to do is find the V7 chord of the new key. Let’s say that you’re playing in the key of C and you want to transpose to the key of , oh let’s say, F. Well that’s real simple because all you need to find is the V chord, the V7 chord in the key of F. Here’s the F scale. [Duane playing piano] What’s the V? One, two, three, four, five, so C is the V of F, and so we build a C seventh chord. So if we’re playing in the key of C, and we want to go to F, all we need to do is add that seventh and then we can [Duane playing piano] All we need to do then is play that V7 chord and that takes us right in to the new key. So, that’s the easiest key to transpose in, I mean to modulate to.
So what if we want to transpose to the key of G? You’re playing in this key of C and you want to be in the key of G. Well, you find the V7 chord of G which is what? Start on G and go up five notes; one, two, three, four, five, and so D seventh is the V chord of the key of G. So we need to get from C [Duane playing piano] to the V7 chord of G which is D seventh, and I just did and then we’re in the key of C. [Duane playing piano]
Let’s say that we want to go up a half-step from C to D flat. That’s real easy too because let’s figure out the five chord of D flat; one, two, three, four, five. It’s A flat isn’t it? The A flat seventh chord. Now notice that the A flat seventh chord has C in it, and we’re playing in the key of C so we can keep that C on top and just move to A flat seventh, and that takes us to the key of D flat. Watch. [Duane playing piano] I’m in the key of C, right? And I just need to get to A flat seventh to take it up to D flat so I’ll end this song. [Duane playing piano] There’s the C chord, and there’s A flat. Then I’m ready to play the same song in the key of D flat. So remember that. All you need to do to modulate is find the V7 chord of the key you want to go to and that’ll take you right there. That’s the key. That’s the key to the next key. So remember that. The key to finding the next key is to find the V7 chord of the new key.
That’s it for today and tomorrow we’ll take up a different subject. So, we’ll see you then, and if you haven’t signed up for my newsletter at playpiano.com you’re missing a lot. So come on over and do it if you haven’t. Thanks. Bye Bye.
If you haven’t taken my course in transposing and modulating, click here to learn about it: https://www.playpiano.com/musical-courses/transpose-modulate.htm