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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Hi all,
...trying to get a little more comfortable with modulations - both hearing them AND composing with them.
I was wondering if you veterans and theorists out there might be able to share which modulations are most common and some sample songs.
I've read in the Ted Green books that it is common for musicians to modulate to a key that's a minor third up from the current, but I'm not sure why that is (he says it sounds really good of course).
Also, I know in hard core jazz, you can modulate any measure, but that doesn't mean that it "sounds good" (of course that depends on your taste).
Looking forward to your advice on this; book titles and website links always welcome.
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Very common to modulate up a fourth as well. Quite typical of a bridge.
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Rhythms changes modulate around the cycle in the bridge, useful if near essential set of changes for Jazz.
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Modulation is in it's most basic form, simply a change of key. Most common modulations are up...half step or full step. It adds a new level of energy to the song.... generally towards the end....after the chorus....It's the kind of modulation most people are familiar with. However.... Conway Twitty's song... Lay You Down.... de-modulates several times towards the end on chorus repeats. Stepping down in key on each repeat of the short chorus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoUnKSw92Q4 skip to 2 minutes..this is a live version and not the studio version.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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as always - thanks so much for the great advice, examples, and links.
Now some related questions - I've read that it is very important for musicians to know the 'circle of 4ths' - or 'circle of 5ths'.
Now I have memorized it - pretty easy:
C F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb B E A D G...C F
My questions:
1.) what is the difference between the circle of 4ths and 5ths
2.) when you play the circles, do you do it with chord qualities of all majors, or all minors, or all 7ths ? If so, can you share some particular song examples
3.) what are some other ways to apply these circles directly into:
a.) transcribing songs
b.) your compositions
Am I even asking the right questions - do I 'know' what I 'don't know', or do I NOT know what I don't know lol
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Thanks for posting PghboeMike...very interesting links and a great site you have there too!
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869
Expert
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as always - thanks so much for the great advice, examples, and links.
Now some related questions - I've read that it is very important for musicians to know the 'circle of 4ths' - or 'circle of 5ths'.
Now I have memorized it - pretty easy:
C F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb B E A D G...C F
My questions:
1.) what is the difference between the circle of 4ths and 5ths
2.) when you play the circles, do you do it with chord qualities of all majors, or all minors, or all 7ths ? If so, can you share some particular song examples
3.) what are some other ways to apply these circles directly into:
a.) transcribing songs
b.) your compositions
Am I even asking the right questions - do I 'know' what I 'don't know', or do I NOT know what I don't know lol The circle of fourths ascending is identical to the circle of fifth descending, and vica versa There are other cycles: chromatic, whole tone, diminished. For blues the most important are the whole tone descending, and the cycle of fourths ascending and fifths ascending, as these are used regularly in the 12 bar If you can visualise the circle of fourths, then you can take a lot from it, apart from just the fourths. For example, the II V I is laid along its borders (one to the left one ti the right of a given position), and the minor thirds are at 90 degrees to each other. |Also the key signatures are easily arranged. Did you notice that 2#s (D) (is opposite 2 bs (Bb) and three flats opposite three sharps, etc... I once made a clock with the cycle on it. You can buy them too, but making one in grained the image in my head. Can you see the whole cycle (4th) thing in your head? For instance what is opposite Eb on the cycle? Z
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Hi guys......
"G-Daddy" is still modulating around RV Parks in Florida...presently now residing in a RV park located in "Old Homosassa"...Still have my Studio Equipment, Guitars, Keyboards and rack stuff!
After singing a set at a local spot, "Neon Leon's Zydeco Steak House", someone called up a request for Brubeck's "Take Five", which was a big hit recording in the 50's, with drummer Joe Morello "modulating" into a sorta strange 5/4 beat territory, plus, that song, except for the Manhattan Transfer might have wished to give it some lyrics??
Well, I too decided to forgo a vocal approach... and so I soon modulated out-de-door...in a hurry.
Try to walk a straight line, much less try to sing lyrics with Morello tapping his sticks to that "Brubeck Beat"!!
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