Brainlag Plus Music

Where has the melody gone?

Music theory, Modulation and melody writing, 10 minutes

Spotting a modulation in a melody or a score: a returning accidental, then a cadence on the new tonic.

Two clues

A modulation shows itself in two ways:

A new accidental that keeps coming back: F sharp in a C major piece points to G major; B natural in an F major piece points to C major; D sharp in G major points to E minor.
A cadence on the new tonic, usually its leading note rising to it.

One accidental on its own may be just colour (a chromatic passing note). An accidental and a cadence in the new key is a modulation.

F sharp, the leading note of G major, then a close on G: the melody has moved to the dominant

The rest of this lesson and its 4 practice questions are in Plus Music.

Screen 1 of 2, free to read.