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Modulation
De nition
Modulation occurs when a song changes key for a long period of time (at least 1 phrase or more
than 1 bar) and is often, though not always, con rmed with a V-I cadence. Changing key for less than
a phrase or for a bar or less is instead called toncisation (http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-
piano-lessons/jazz-chords/secondary-chords/).
Types of Modulation
Modulations are very common in Jazz. Very few jazz songs stay in one key for the whole song, and
some don’t stay in one key for more than 2 bars. In Jazz, the most common types of modulation are:
Unprepared/Direct modulation – which modulates to the next key with a I chord.
Many songs use this kind of modulation, especially between sections. Modal Jazz songs
like So What and Impressions use this type of modulation when they move from the key of
D Dorian in part A of the song, to E♭ Dorian in part B.
Prepared modulation – which modulates to the next key by preparing the new I chord
with a V or ii-V. So you’re given a bit of warning before you encounter the next tonic
chord.
How High the Moon does this with the chord progression:
GMaj7 | GMaj7 | Gm7 | C7 | FMaj7 | FMaj7 | Fm7 | B♭7 | E♭Maj7 ||
And changing the chord quality while keeping the same root notes, as is done here, is
very common.
Pivot Chord modulation – which uses a diatonic chord common to two keys to pivot
from one key to the other, such that the pivot chord is in both keys.
For example, take the chord progression:
Dm7 | G7 | CMaj7 | Em7| A7 | DMaj7 ||
This looks like a ii-V-I in C followed by a ii-V-I in D, but looking closer we see that the Em7
chord is both in the key of C and D Major, so is arguably in both keys at once.
The song Autumn Leaves does this as it modulated from the key of B♭Maj to its relative
Gmin:
Cm7 | F7 | B♭Maj7 | E♭Maj7 | Am7♭5 | D7 | Gm7 | Gm7 ||
Transitional/Chain modulation – which uses a succession of ii-V’s to quickly move
through a number of di erent keys, moving down by a semitone, tone or fth. Though
this could arguable be tonicisation.
Blues for Alice does this:
FMaj7 | Em7♭5 A7 | Dm7 G7 | Cm7 F7 | B♭7 ||
As does In Your Own Sweet Way:
Am7♭5 D7 | Gm7 C7 | Cm7 F7 | B♭6 ||
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Modulation to Where?
And most modulations change key to the:
Relative Major or minor (C Major to A minor)
Parallel Major or minor (C Major to C minor)
A key closed related on the circle of fths and so sharing many notes in common (C Major
[no sharps of ats] to F Major [one at] or G Major [one sharp])
There are other types of modulation – like common-tone modulation, enharmonic modulation,
chromatic-tone modulation – but these aren’t really common to Jazz, they are more applicable to
Classical.
Tonicisation
If the key changes for a short period of time, before concluding that a modulation has taken place,
always look for:
Secondary dominants (http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-
chords/secondary-chords/)
Borrowed chords (http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-
chords/borrowed-chords/)
Chord substitution (http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-
chords/chord-substitution/)
Passing chords (http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz-piano-lessons/jazz-chords/passing-
chords/)
As these are often a better explanation for chords in a di erent key – especially if there is no
con rming V-I cadence.
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An Example
And when analysing a chord progression, always look at the chords in an entire section, as this will
give you more context as to what is happening. And keep in mind that there are many ways to
analyse the same chord progression. And some are genuinely di cult to analyse. Look at the Jazz
Standard: Take the A Train. Section A of the chord progression goes as follows:
Looking at the rst 4 bars, this looks like a simple IV-V movement in G. The melody even start on the
note G. But looking at the next 4 bars we see that we are actually in the key of C. We never con rm
the cadence by resolving to the GMaj7. As such, I think it is better to analyse the D7 as a:
II7 borrowed chord from the Lydian Mode; or
V/V Secondary Dominant resolving to the G7 but with a ii passing chord inserted before it
to delay the cadence and create a ii-V movement.
So I would say this whole section is in the key of C with a borrowed chord or secondary dominant
creating a delayed cadence. But you’re welcome to disagree.
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Jazz Piano Tutorial - Modulation
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