How to modulate very smoothly and stealthily from major to minor?











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I would like to modulate from G major to c minor in such a way that it would be almost unnoticeable to the listener. I'm composing a piece in a style that's very Arvo-Pärtesque minimalist-sounding, so that does limit the chromatic/enharmonic options. The main difficulty seems to be that it's very hard to introduce the E flat without it sounding ever so slightly jarring. The other way round (going stealthily from minor to major) is much easier, for some reason.










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    I'd be intrigued to find out why this question has attracted 1000 views. It's a great question, but so prolific!
    – Tim
    Nov 12 at 18:16








  • 4




    @Tim it may be the somewhat misleading title. I thought it was about a mode change major I to minor i - of course not a modulation - but it's really about modulating to minor iv.
    – Michael Curtis
    Nov 12 at 20:51










  • @Tim I've been wondering about that as well. It's not like there's a shortage of "How to modulate from X to Y?" questions on this stack.
    – Kim Fierens
    Nov 12 at 22:23






  • 1




    @dalearn - what does that mean, please?
    – Tim
    Nov 13 at 13:47






  • 3




    @Tim My impression is that this question—and it's a good question!—involves a few buzzwords that attract the everyday musician. I know I've heard several self-learned guitarists and composers talk about making modulations that are "smooth" and "stealth" without disrupting the musical surface too much; perhaps this is why the question is so popular? (Again, I'm not denigrating the question at all; it's a good quesiton, and I'm glad it's here!)
    – Richard
    Nov 13 at 17:10

















up vote
25
down vote

favorite
8












I would like to modulate from G major to c minor in such a way that it would be almost unnoticeable to the listener. I'm composing a piece in a style that's very Arvo-Pärtesque minimalist-sounding, so that does limit the chromatic/enharmonic options. The main difficulty seems to be that it's very hard to introduce the E flat without it sounding ever so slightly jarring. The other way round (going stealthily from minor to major) is much easier, for some reason.










share|improve this question


















  • 3




    I'd be intrigued to find out why this question has attracted 1000 views. It's a great question, but so prolific!
    – Tim
    Nov 12 at 18:16








  • 4




    @Tim it may be the somewhat misleading title. I thought it was about a mode change major I to minor i - of course not a modulation - but it's really about modulating to minor iv.
    – Michael Curtis
    Nov 12 at 20:51










  • @Tim I've been wondering about that as well. It's not like there's a shortage of "How to modulate from X to Y?" questions on this stack.
    – Kim Fierens
    Nov 12 at 22:23






  • 1




    @dalearn - what does that mean, please?
    – Tim
    Nov 13 at 13:47






  • 3




    @Tim My impression is that this question—and it's a good question!—involves a few buzzwords that attract the everyday musician. I know I've heard several self-learned guitarists and composers talk about making modulations that are "smooth" and "stealth" without disrupting the musical surface too much; perhaps this is why the question is so popular? (Again, I'm not denigrating the question at all; it's a good quesiton, and I'm glad it's here!)
    – Richard
    Nov 13 at 17:10















up vote
25
down vote

favorite
8









up vote
25
down vote

favorite
8






8





I would like to modulate from G major to c minor in such a way that it would be almost unnoticeable to the listener. I'm composing a piece in a style that's very Arvo-Pärtesque minimalist-sounding, so that does limit the chromatic/enharmonic options. The main difficulty seems to be that it's very hard to introduce the E flat without it sounding ever so slightly jarring. The other way round (going stealthily from minor to major) is much easier, for some reason.










share|improve this question













I would like to modulate from G major to c minor in such a way that it would be almost unnoticeable to the listener. I'm composing a piece in a style that's very Arvo-Pärtesque minimalist-sounding, so that does limit the chromatic/enharmonic options. The main difficulty seems to be that it's very hard to introduce the E flat without it sounding ever so slightly jarring. The other way round (going stealthily from minor to major) is much easier, for some reason.







harmony modulation styles






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asked Nov 12 at 6:52









Kim Fierens

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48059








  • 3




    I'd be intrigued to find out why this question has attracted 1000 views. It's a great question, but so prolific!
    – Tim
    Nov 12 at 18:16








  • 4




    @Tim it may be the somewhat misleading title. I thought it was about a mode change major I to minor i - of course not a modulation - but it's really about modulating to minor iv.
    – Michael Curtis
    Nov 12 at 20:51










  • @Tim I've been wondering about that as well. It's not like there's a shortage of "How to modulate from X to Y?" questions on this stack.
    – Kim Fierens
    Nov 12 at 22:23






  • 1




    @dalearn - what does that mean, please?
    – Tim
    Nov 13 at 13:47






  • 3




    @Tim My impression is that this question—and it's a good question!—involves a few buzzwords that attract the everyday musician. I know I've heard several self-learned guitarists and composers talk about making modulations that are "smooth" and "stealth" without disrupting the musical surface too much; perhaps this is why the question is so popular? (Again, I'm not denigrating the question at all; it's a good quesiton, and I'm glad it's here!)
    – Richard
    Nov 13 at 17:10
















  • 3




    I'd be intrigued to find out why this question has attracted 1000 views. It's a great question, but so prolific!
    – Tim
    Nov 12 at 18:16








  • 4




    @Tim it may be the somewhat misleading title. I thought it was about a mode change major I to minor i - of course not a modulation - but it's really about modulating to minor iv.
    – Michael Curtis
    Nov 12 at 20:51










  • @Tim I've been wondering about that as well. It's not like there's a shortage of "How to modulate from X to Y?" questions on this stack.
    – Kim Fierens
    Nov 12 at 22:23






  • 1




    @dalearn - what does that mean, please?
    – Tim
    Nov 13 at 13:47






  • 3




    @Tim My impression is that this question—and it's a good question!—involves a few buzzwords that attract the everyday musician. I know I've heard several self-learned guitarists and composers talk about making modulations that are "smooth" and "stealth" without disrupting the musical surface too much; perhaps this is why the question is so popular? (Again, I'm not denigrating the question at all; it's a good quesiton, and I'm glad it's here!)
    – Richard
    Nov 13 at 17:10










3




3




I'd be intrigued to find out why this question has attracted 1000 views. It's a great question, but so prolific!
– Tim
Nov 12 at 18:16






I'd be intrigued to find out why this question has attracted 1000 views. It's a great question, but so prolific!
– Tim
Nov 12 at 18:16






4




4




@Tim it may be the somewhat misleading title. I thought it was about a mode change major I to minor i - of course not a modulation - but it's really about modulating to minor iv.
– Michael Curtis
Nov 12 at 20:51




@Tim it may be the somewhat misleading title. I thought it was about a mode change major I to minor i - of course not a modulation - but it's really about modulating to minor iv.
– Michael Curtis
Nov 12 at 20:51












@Tim I've been wondering about that as well. It's not like there's a shortage of "How to modulate from X to Y?" questions on this stack.
– Kim Fierens
Nov 12 at 22:23




@Tim I've been wondering about that as well. It's not like there's a shortage of "How to modulate from X to Y?" questions on this stack.
– Kim Fierens
Nov 12 at 22:23




1




1




@dalearn - what does that mean, please?
– Tim
Nov 13 at 13:47




@dalearn - what does that mean, please?
– Tim
Nov 13 at 13:47




3




3




@Tim My impression is that this question—and it's a good question!—involves a few buzzwords that attract the everyday musician. I know I've heard several self-learned guitarists and composers talk about making modulations that are "smooth" and "stealth" without disrupting the musical surface too much; perhaps this is why the question is so popular? (Again, I'm not denigrating the question at all; it's a good quesiton, and I'm glad it's here!)
– Richard
Nov 13 at 17:10






@Tim My impression is that this question—and it's a good question!—involves a few buzzwords that attract the everyday musician. I know I've heard several self-learned guitarists and composers talk about making modulations that are "smooth" and "stealth" without disrupting the musical surface too much; perhaps this is why the question is so popular? (Again, I'm not denigrating the question at all; it's a good quesiton, and I'm glad it's here!)
– Richard
Nov 13 at 17:10












9 Answers
9






active

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votes

















up vote
10
down vote



accepted










Within a minimalist sort of setting, one approach I might take would be to boil things down to just the root or root and fifth. If you have a long enough period of time where you don't have a third in the mix, your ear won't be glued to a given tonality and introducing the minor flavor into the mix shouldn't sound as abrupt. You can also start adding in the b7 of the original key before hitting the Eb. Since there is a major mode that has a b7 (Mixolydian), that is the only note that is present in the minor modes that is common with any major modes.



I'm not familiar with Arvo-Pärtesque to be able to say whether or not this approach would be great in that context or not.






share|improve this answer

















  • 1




    That sounds like the most convincing way (stylistically speaking) I've read here so far. Just fade out the thirds for a while (or treat them like dissonances as it were) and then gradually bring them back in. Definitely going to try that. Thanks!
    – Kim Fierens
    Nov 12 at 22:31










  • No problem! I definitely don’t write minimalist music or have a lot of experience there but that makes the most sense to me
    – Basstickler
    Nov 12 at 23:17










  • If you're still interested, I've posted a (partial) answer to my own question. It will probably end up at the bottom, and possibly attract its share of criticism, my "modulation" being more a juxtaposition of keys. Whatever. It fits my style, and I'm happy with it.
    – Kim Fierens
    Nov 14 at 0:34


















up vote
23
down vote













Eb is certainly a foreigner in G major. To help the ear not to be surprised by it, you could use D# a couple of times as a chromatic passing note from D to E (D > D# > E) in preceding melody. This could be part of an innocuous harmonic progression like I-IV. You could then write a melodic fragment D -> Eb -> G, introducing C minor around G. You could tonicise it then and there, or later.



Mozart was a master of musical puns like this. See how crafty he was in the 24th Piano Concerto:



enter image description here






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  • 1




    Thanks for this excellent answer. I think I could jiggle it in as a chromatic passing note. Mozart rocks!
    – Kim Fierens
    Nov 12 at 8:07






  • 2




    Listen to the image: youtu.be/2XlLpZ4erlw?t=447
    – bjb568
    Nov 12 at 17:25


















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I would recommend, as a general approach, looking at Max Reger's Modulation. C min is relative to Eb Maj, a cadence from GMaj to Eb Maj could be modified to move to C min in a fairly straight forward manner.






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    Using the notes that make up Bo works well. Diminished harmonies are often used to move out of one diatonic place to another.






    share|improve this answer




























      up vote
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      G major is the dominant chord of C harmonic minor, so I don't think you actually need to do anything special to go from one to the other. G already moves in to Cm easily. Try a progression like G, Am, D7, G, Cm, Fm, G, Cm, for example. (You could of course drop the harmonic minor after the switch, so the 2nd half of that example could as well be e.g. Cm, Fm, Gm, Cm.)



      Other, shorter examples, with 3-note voicings:





      • D7, G, Cm



        D7, G, Cm




      • Am7, G, Cm



        Am7, G, Cm




      • G, G7, Cm (also G, Bdim, Cm)



        G, Bdim, Cm




      • G, C, Cm (a little different)



        G, C, Cm




      Some of those work fine, even with just 2-note voicings.



      Emphasizing the leading tone resolution (B in to C) somehow can also help make the G, Cm change sound more deliberate.






      share|improve this answer























      • I think the issue here is that the OP is trying to accomplish this in a minimalist setting, so a whole bunch of chord changes isn't likely to help.
        – Basstickler
        Nov 13 at 16:57










      • @Basstickler There's no reason they can't use fewer chords than my example. G, Cm is the only necessary part, or something like D, G, Cm if they want to spend more time setting it up.
        – Radiodef
        Nov 13 at 17:12






      • 1




        I think it just depends on how minimalist they are going for. Extreme minimalism may not even really have chord progressions. Ultimately, I'd argue that the answer you've supplied makes sense for a modulation but doesn't seem to satisfy what the OP is asking for, particularly that they are stating that the inclusion of the Eb in the C minor chord feels abrupt. It's true that G is the dominant in C minor and that it acts as a good pivot chord but ultimately that doesn't help the fact that the modulation to minor is jarring.
        – Basstickler
        Nov 13 at 17:49










      • @Basstickler I don't think there's any reason these progressions can't be used in a minimalist composition. Here's G, G7, Cm with two-note voicings, for example. I'm honestly not really understanding your criticism here. Do you think I should try to explain how I would go about voicing these chords?
        – Radiodef
        Nov 13 at 18:09










      • I don't think that your answer is wrong in general or that it's impossible to accomplish in a minimalist setting, just that it doesn't seem to address what the OP is talking about with the addition of the Eb sounding abrupt.
        – Basstickler
        Nov 13 at 18:16


















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      A modulation from G major to C minor would be a modulation to the subdominant.



      The most straight forward way to to the subdominant is the lower the leading tone and apply it to the tonic chord. In G major, change the F sharp to F natural and add it to the tonic G chord. So the tonic I chord in G major will become the dominant V7 in C (major or minor.)



      The interesting part is your concern about the tone E flat and the possibility it could be jarring.



      The vii°7 in G major is F#,A,C,Eb so you could use that to move into G and introduce the E flat. Something like G: vii°7 I Cm: V4/2 i6/3.



      Another possibility is to go to the major IV first then just lower the third to make it minor iv. If that is combined with the G7 you will get a nice chromatic descent F,E,Eb plus both work with the notion of altering tones by lowering them.





      EDIT



      Forgot to load an image yesterday. I added a third example trying out two converging chromatic lines.



      enter image description here






      share|improve this answer






























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        1
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        Modulations should make use of pivot chords to make the modulation smooth.



        A pivot chord(s) put simply is chords that fit in both the key you are modulating towards and the key you are coming from.



        so for instance, if you have a 4 bar phrase in C Major. Let say your phrase ends on an interrupted cadence. Now that six-chord of C major is an a minor chord, this is conveniently also the tonic chord of a minor. Both these chords are a suitable resolution to your cadence.



        Now we are in the second chord of your second four bar phrase now you can go to the d minor chord that is again both C:ii and a:iv this is the second pivot chord you can use.



        Then finally we would just have an E Major chord with a raised g# tha resolves correctly to now make it clear that we are in a minor. There is nothing that makes modulations as clear as Leading Tones resolving towards a Tonic.



        Some modulations lend themselves more towards the use of pivot chords than others but the modulation to the relative minor is an especially easy one to use them with.






        share|improve this answer

















        • 5




          All very well and fancy. But OP wants to get to C MINOR.
          – Tim
          Nov 12 at 21:05


















        up vote
        1
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        The progression I I7 IV iv is quite common. If you were to establish that as a pattern in G major, but gradually shift the rythmic emphasis away from the I and IV and toward the I7 and iv, then those two chords could come to be perceived as the V7 and i of C minor, without there necessarily having been any clear point where the piece switched key.






        share|improve this answer




























          up vote
          0
          down vote













          In case anyone's interested: I've solved, to my own satisfaction, the change of mode part of my question, in a rather unexpected way, by transitioning first to F sharp Aeolian. Of course, I'm still way off C minor, but modulating through minor-like modes and keys makes it easier (I hope). I think the main lesson here is that key transition doesn't necessarily involve advanced "chord magic" (although it can). Stylistically speaking, it's more about setting up proper expectations and then refuting those in a convincing way than anything else.



          The repeat bars all involve two repetitions instead of the usual one, by the way. The key of G major had been very firmly established beforehand. I want to end with a modulation from C minor back to D minor (hence the key signature), followed of course by a protracted cadence in that key.



          enter image description here



          Follow-up question (to all you harpists out there): is the stuff I wrote for the harp at all playable, assuming a reasonably competent harpist? (The tempo is very slow, like 45 BPM.)






          share|improve this answer























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            9 Answers
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            9 Answers
            9






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            active

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            up vote
            10
            down vote



            accepted










            Within a minimalist sort of setting, one approach I might take would be to boil things down to just the root or root and fifth. If you have a long enough period of time where you don't have a third in the mix, your ear won't be glued to a given tonality and introducing the minor flavor into the mix shouldn't sound as abrupt. You can also start adding in the b7 of the original key before hitting the Eb. Since there is a major mode that has a b7 (Mixolydian), that is the only note that is present in the minor modes that is common with any major modes.



            I'm not familiar with Arvo-Pärtesque to be able to say whether or not this approach would be great in that context or not.






            share|improve this answer

















            • 1




              That sounds like the most convincing way (stylistically speaking) I've read here so far. Just fade out the thirds for a while (or treat them like dissonances as it were) and then gradually bring them back in. Definitely going to try that. Thanks!
              – Kim Fierens
              Nov 12 at 22:31










            • No problem! I definitely don’t write minimalist music or have a lot of experience there but that makes the most sense to me
              – Basstickler
              Nov 12 at 23:17










            • If you're still interested, I've posted a (partial) answer to my own question. It will probably end up at the bottom, and possibly attract its share of criticism, my "modulation" being more a juxtaposition of keys. Whatever. It fits my style, and I'm happy with it.
              – Kim Fierens
              Nov 14 at 0:34















            up vote
            10
            down vote



            accepted










            Within a minimalist sort of setting, one approach I might take would be to boil things down to just the root or root and fifth. If you have a long enough period of time where you don't have a third in the mix, your ear won't be glued to a given tonality and introducing the minor flavor into the mix shouldn't sound as abrupt. You can also start adding in the b7 of the original key before hitting the Eb. Since there is a major mode that has a b7 (Mixolydian), that is the only note that is present in the minor modes that is common with any major modes.



            I'm not familiar with Arvo-Pärtesque to be able to say whether or not this approach would be great in that context or not.






            share|improve this answer

















            • 1




              That sounds like the most convincing way (stylistically speaking) I've read here so far. Just fade out the thirds for a while (or treat them like dissonances as it were) and then gradually bring them back in. Definitely going to try that. Thanks!
              – Kim Fierens
              Nov 12 at 22:31










            • No problem! I definitely don’t write minimalist music or have a lot of experience there but that makes the most sense to me
              – Basstickler
              Nov 12 at 23:17










            • If you're still interested, I've posted a (partial) answer to my own question. It will probably end up at the bottom, and possibly attract its share of criticism, my "modulation" being more a juxtaposition of keys. Whatever. It fits my style, and I'm happy with it.
              – Kim Fierens
              Nov 14 at 0:34













            up vote
            10
            down vote



            accepted







            up vote
            10
            down vote



            accepted






            Within a minimalist sort of setting, one approach I might take would be to boil things down to just the root or root and fifth. If you have a long enough period of time where you don't have a third in the mix, your ear won't be glued to a given tonality and introducing the minor flavor into the mix shouldn't sound as abrupt. You can also start adding in the b7 of the original key before hitting the Eb. Since there is a major mode that has a b7 (Mixolydian), that is the only note that is present in the minor modes that is common with any major modes.



            I'm not familiar with Arvo-Pärtesque to be able to say whether or not this approach would be great in that context or not.






            share|improve this answer












            Within a minimalist sort of setting, one approach I might take would be to boil things down to just the root or root and fifth. If you have a long enough period of time where you don't have a third in the mix, your ear won't be glued to a given tonality and introducing the minor flavor into the mix shouldn't sound as abrupt. You can also start adding in the b7 of the original key before hitting the Eb. Since there is a major mode that has a b7 (Mixolydian), that is the only note that is present in the minor modes that is common with any major modes.



            I'm not familiar with Arvo-Pärtesque to be able to say whether or not this approach would be great in that context or not.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Nov 12 at 19:38









            Basstickler

            6,0731033




            6,0731033








            • 1




              That sounds like the most convincing way (stylistically speaking) I've read here so far. Just fade out the thirds for a while (or treat them like dissonances as it were) and then gradually bring them back in. Definitely going to try that. Thanks!
              – Kim Fierens
              Nov 12 at 22:31










            • No problem! I definitely don’t write minimalist music or have a lot of experience there but that makes the most sense to me
              – Basstickler
              Nov 12 at 23:17










            • If you're still interested, I've posted a (partial) answer to my own question. It will probably end up at the bottom, and possibly attract its share of criticism, my "modulation" being more a juxtaposition of keys. Whatever. It fits my style, and I'm happy with it.
              – Kim Fierens
              Nov 14 at 0:34














            • 1




              That sounds like the most convincing way (stylistically speaking) I've read here so far. Just fade out the thirds for a while (or treat them like dissonances as it were) and then gradually bring them back in. Definitely going to try that. Thanks!
              – Kim Fierens
              Nov 12 at 22:31










            • No problem! I definitely don’t write minimalist music or have a lot of experience there but that makes the most sense to me
              – Basstickler
              Nov 12 at 23:17










            • If you're still interested, I've posted a (partial) answer to my own question. It will probably end up at the bottom, and possibly attract its share of criticism, my "modulation" being more a juxtaposition of keys. Whatever. It fits my style, and I'm happy with it.
              – Kim Fierens
              Nov 14 at 0:34








            1




            1




            That sounds like the most convincing way (stylistically speaking) I've read here so far. Just fade out the thirds for a while (or treat them like dissonances as it were) and then gradually bring them back in. Definitely going to try that. Thanks!
            – Kim Fierens
            Nov 12 at 22:31




            That sounds like the most convincing way (stylistically speaking) I've read here so far. Just fade out the thirds for a while (or treat them like dissonances as it were) and then gradually bring them back in. Definitely going to try that. Thanks!
            – Kim Fierens
            Nov 12 at 22:31












            No problem! I definitely don’t write minimalist music or have a lot of experience there but that makes the most sense to me
            – Basstickler
            Nov 12 at 23:17




            No problem! I definitely don’t write minimalist music or have a lot of experience there but that makes the most sense to me
            – Basstickler
            Nov 12 at 23:17












            If you're still interested, I've posted a (partial) answer to my own question. It will probably end up at the bottom, and possibly attract its share of criticism, my "modulation" being more a juxtaposition of keys. Whatever. It fits my style, and I'm happy with it.
            – Kim Fierens
            Nov 14 at 0:34




            If you're still interested, I've posted a (partial) answer to my own question. It will probably end up at the bottom, and possibly attract its share of criticism, my "modulation" being more a juxtaposition of keys. Whatever. It fits my style, and I'm happy with it.
            – Kim Fierens
            Nov 14 at 0:34










            up vote
            23
            down vote













            Eb is certainly a foreigner in G major. To help the ear not to be surprised by it, you could use D# a couple of times as a chromatic passing note from D to E (D > D# > E) in preceding melody. This could be part of an innocuous harmonic progression like I-IV. You could then write a melodic fragment D -> Eb -> G, introducing C minor around G. You could tonicise it then and there, or later.



            Mozart was a master of musical puns like this. See how crafty he was in the 24th Piano Concerto:



            enter image description here






            share|improve this answer

















            • 1




              Thanks for this excellent answer. I think I could jiggle it in as a chromatic passing note. Mozart rocks!
              – Kim Fierens
              Nov 12 at 8:07






            • 2




              Listen to the image: youtu.be/2XlLpZ4erlw?t=447
              – bjb568
              Nov 12 at 17:25















            up vote
            23
            down vote













            Eb is certainly a foreigner in G major. To help the ear not to be surprised by it, you could use D# a couple of times as a chromatic passing note from D to E (D > D# > E) in preceding melody. This could be part of an innocuous harmonic progression like I-IV. You could then write a melodic fragment D -> Eb -> G, introducing C minor around G. You could tonicise it then and there, or later.



            Mozart was a master of musical puns like this. See how crafty he was in the 24th Piano Concerto:



            enter image description here






            share|improve this answer

















            • 1




              Thanks for this excellent answer. I think I could jiggle it in as a chromatic passing note. Mozart rocks!
              – Kim Fierens
              Nov 12 at 8:07






            • 2




              Listen to the image: youtu.be/2XlLpZ4erlw?t=447
              – bjb568
              Nov 12 at 17:25













            up vote
            23
            down vote










            up vote
            23
            down vote









            Eb is certainly a foreigner in G major. To help the ear not to be surprised by it, you could use D# a couple of times as a chromatic passing note from D to E (D > D# > E) in preceding melody. This could be part of an innocuous harmonic progression like I-IV. You could then write a melodic fragment D -> Eb -> G, introducing C minor around G. You could tonicise it then and there, or later.



            Mozart was a master of musical puns like this. See how crafty he was in the 24th Piano Concerto:



            enter image description here






            share|improve this answer












            Eb is certainly a foreigner in G major. To help the ear not to be surprised by it, you could use D# a couple of times as a chromatic passing note from D to E (D > D# > E) in preceding melody. This could be part of an innocuous harmonic progression like I-IV. You could then write a melodic fragment D -> Eb -> G, introducing C minor around G. You could tonicise it then and there, or later.



            Mozart was a master of musical puns like this. See how crafty he was in the 24th Piano Concerto:



            enter image description here







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Nov 12 at 7:29









            replete

            1,716313




            1,716313








            • 1




              Thanks for this excellent answer. I think I could jiggle it in as a chromatic passing note. Mozart rocks!
              – Kim Fierens
              Nov 12 at 8:07






            • 2




              Listen to the image: youtu.be/2XlLpZ4erlw?t=447
              – bjb568
              Nov 12 at 17:25














            • 1




              Thanks for this excellent answer. I think I could jiggle it in as a chromatic passing note. Mozart rocks!
              – Kim Fierens
              Nov 12 at 8:07






            • 2




              Listen to the image: youtu.be/2XlLpZ4erlw?t=447
              – bjb568
              Nov 12 at 17:25








            1




            1




            Thanks for this excellent answer. I think I could jiggle it in as a chromatic passing note. Mozart rocks!
            – Kim Fierens
            Nov 12 at 8:07




            Thanks for this excellent answer. I think I could jiggle it in as a chromatic passing note. Mozart rocks!
            – Kim Fierens
            Nov 12 at 8:07




            2




            2




            Listen to the image: youtu.be/2XlLpZ4erlw?t=447
            – bjb568
            Nov 12 at 17:25




            Listen to the image: youtu.be/2XlLpZ4erlw?t=447
            – bjb568
            Nov 12 at 17:25










            up vote
            3
            down vote













            I would recommend, as a general approach, looking at Max Reger's Modulation. C min is relative to Eb Maj, a cadence from GMaj to Eb Maj could be modified to move to C min in a fairly straight forward manner.






            share|improve this answer

























              up vote
              3
              down vote













              I would recommend, as a general approach, looking at Max Reger's Modulation. C min is relative to Eb Maj, a cadence from GMaj to Eb Maj could be modified to move to C min in a fairly straight forward manner.






              share|improve this answer























                up vote
                3
                down vote










                up vote
                3
                down vote









                I would recommend, as a general approach, looking at Max Reger's Modulation. C min is relative to Eb Maj, a cadence from GMaj to Eb Maj could be modified to move to C min in a fairly straight forward manner.






                share|improve this answer












                I would recommend, as a general approach, looking at Max Reger's Modulation. C min is relative to Eb Maj, a cadence from GMaj to Eb Maj could be modified to move to C min in a fairly straight forward manner.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered Nov 12 at 15:00









                ggcg

                2,649217




                2,649217






















                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote













                    Using the notes that make up Bo works well. Diminished harmonies are often used to move out of one diatonic place to another.






                    share|improve this answer

























                      up vote
                      2
                      down vote













                      Using the notes that make up Bo works well. Diminished harmonies are often used to move out of one diatonic place to another.






                      share|improve this answer























                        up vote
                        2
                        down vote










                        up vote
                        2
                        down vote









                        Using the notes that make up Bo works well. Diminished harmonies are often used to move out of one diatonic place to another.






                        share|improve this answer












                        Using the notes that make up Bo works well. Diminished harmonies are often used to move out of one diatonic place to another.







                        share|improve this answer












                        share|improve this answer



                        share|improve this answer










                        answered Nov 12 at 8:35









                        Tim

                        93.5k1095237




                        93.5k1095237






















                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote













                            G major is the dominant chord of C harmonic minor, so I don't think you actually need to do anything special to go from one to the other. G already moves in to Cm easily. Try a progression like G, Am, D7, G, Cm, Fm, G, Cm, for example. (You could of course drop the harmonic minor after the switch, so the 2nd half of that example could as well be e.g. Cm, Fm, Gm, Cm.)



                            Other, shorter examples, with 3-note voicings:





                            • D7, G, Cm



                              D7, G, Cm




                            • Am7, G, Cm



                              Am7, G, Cm




                            • G, G7, Cm (also G, Bdim, Cm)



                              G, Bdim, Cm




                            • G, C, Cm (a little different)



                              G, C, Cm




                            Some of those work fine, even with just 2-note voicings.



                            Emphasizing the leading tone resolution (B in to C) somehow can also help make the G, Cm change sound more deliberate.






                            share|improve this answer























                            • I think the issue here is that the OP is trying to accomplish this in a minimalist setting, so a whole bunch of chord changes isn't likely to help.
                              – Basstickler
                              Nov 13 at 16:57










                            • @Basstickler There's no reason they can't use fewer chords than my example. G, Cm is the only necessary part, or something like D, G, Cm if they want to spend more time setting it up.
                              – Radiodef
                              Nov 13 at 17:12






                            • 1




                              I think it just depends on how minimalist they are going for. Extreme minimalism may not even really have chord progressions. Ultimately, I'd argue that the answer you've supplied makes sense for a modulation but doesn't seem to satisfy what the OP is asking for, particularly that they are stating that the inclusion of the Eb in the C minor chord feels abrupt. It's true that G is the dominant in C minor and that it acts as a good pivot chord but ultimately that doesn't help the fact that the modulation to minor is jarring.
                              – Basstickler
                              Nov 13 at 17:49










                            • @Basstickler I don't think there's any reason these progressions can't be used in a minimalist composition. Here's G, G7, Cm with two-note voicings, for example. I'm honestly not really understanding your criticism here. Do you think I should try to explain how I would go about voicing these chords?
                              – Radiodef
                              Nov 13 at 18:09










                            • I don't think that your answer is wrong in general or that it's impossible to accomplish in a minimalist setting, just that it doesn't seem to address what the OP is talking about with the addition of the Eb sounding abrupt.
                              – Basstickler
                              Nov 13 at 18:16















                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote













                            G major is the dominant chord of C harmonic minor, so I don't think you actually need to do anything special to go from one to the other. G already moves in to Cm easily. Try a progression like G, Am, D7, G, Cm, Fm, G, Cm, for example. (You could of course drop the harmonic minor after the switch, so the 2nd half of that example could as well be e.g. Cm, Fm, Gm, Cm.)



                            Other, shorter examples, with 3-note voicings:





                            • D7, G, Cm



                              D7, G, Cm




                            • Am7, G, Cm



                              Am7, G, Cm




                            • G, G7, Cm (also G, Bdim, Cm)



                              G, Bdim, Cm




                            • G, C, Cm (a little different)



                              G, C, Cm




                            Some of those work fine, even with just 2-note voicings.



                            Emphasizing the leading tone resolution (B in to C) somehow can also help make the G, Cm change sound more deliberate.






                            share|improve this answer























                            • I think the issue here is that the OP is trying to accomplish this in a minimalist setting, so a whole bunch of chord changes isn't likely to help.
                              – Basstickler
                              Nov 13 at 16:57










                            • @Basstickler There's no reason they can't use fewer chords than my example. G, Cm is the only necessary part, or something like D, G, Cm if they want to spend more time setting it up.
                              – Radiodef
                              Nov 13 at 17:12






                            • 1




                              I think it just depends on how minimalist they are going for. Extreme minimalism may not even really have chord progressions. Ultimately, I'd argue that the answer you've supplied makes sense for a modulation but doesn't seem to satisfy what the OP is asking for, particularly that they are stating that the inclusion of the Eb in the C minor chord feels abrupt. It's true that G is the dominant in C minor and that it acts as a good pivot chord but ultimately that doesn't help the fact that the modulation to minor is jarring.
                              – Basstickler
                              Nov 13 at 17:49










                            • @Basstickler I don't think there's any reason these progressions can't be used in a minimalist composition. Here's G, G7, Cm with two-note voicings, for example. I'm honestly not really understanding your criticism here. Do you think I should try to explain how I would go about voicing these chords?
                              – Radiodef
                              Nov 13 at 18:09










                            • I don't think that your answer is wrong in general or that it's impossible to accomplish in a minimalist setting, just that it doesn't seem to address what the OP is talking about with the addition of the Eb sounding abrupt.
                              – Basstickler
                              Nov 13 at 18:16













                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote









                            G major is the dominant chord of C harmonic minor, so I don't think you actually need to do anything special to go from one to the other. G already moves in to Cm easily. Try a progression like G, Am, D7, G, Cm, Fm, G, Cm, for example. (You could of course drop the harmonic minor after the switch, so the 2nd half of that example could as well be e.g. Cm, Fm, Gm, Cm.)



                            Other, shorter examples, with 3-note voicings:





                            • D7, G, Cm



                              D7, G, Cm




                            • Am7, G, Cm



                              Am7, G, Cm




                            • G, G7, Cm (also G, Bdim, Cm)



                              G, Bdim, Cm




                            • G, C, Cm (a little different)



                              G, C, Cm




                            Some of those work fine, even with just 2-note voicings.



                            Emphasizing the leading tone resolution (B in to C) somehow can also help make the G, Cm change sound more deliberate.






                            share|improve this answer














                            G major is the dominant chord of C harmonic minor, so I don't think you actually need to do anything special to go from one to the other. G already moves in to Cm easily. Try a progression like G, Am, D7, G, Cm, Fm, G, Cm, for example. (You could of course drop the harmonic minor after the switch, so the 2nd half of that example could as well be e.g. Cm, Fm, Gm, Cm.)



                            Other, shorter examples, with 3-note voicings:





                            • D7, G, Cm



                              D7, G, Cm




                            • Am7, G, Cm



                              Am7, G, Cm




                            • G, G7, Cm (also G, Bdim, Cm)



                              G, Bdim, Cm




                            • G, C, Cm (a little different)



                              G, C, Cm




                            Some of those work fine, even with just 2-note voicings.



                            Emphasizing the leading tone resolution (B in to C) somehow can also help make the G, Cm change sound more deliberate.







                            share|improve this answer














                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer








                            edited Nov 13 at 19:43

























                            answered Nov 13 at 16:44









                            Radiodef

                            25317




                            25317












                            • I think the issue here is that the OP is trying to accomplish this in a minimalist setting, so a whole bunch of chord changes isn't likely to help.
                              – Basstickler
                              Nov 13 at 16:57










                            • @Basstickler There's no reason they can't use fewer chords than my example. G, Cm is the only necessary part, or something like D, G, Cm if they want to spend more time setting it up.
                              – Radiodef
                              Nov 13 at 17:12






                            • 1




                              I think it just depends on how minimalist they are going for. Extreme minimalism may not even really have chord progressions. Ultimately, I'd argue that the answer you've supplied makes sense for a modulation but doesn't seem to satisfy what the OP is asking for, particularly that they are stating that the inclusion of the Eb in the C minor chord feels abrupt. It's true that G is the dominant in C minor and that it acts as a good pivot chord but ultimately that doesn't help the fact that the modulation to minor is jarring.
                              – Basstickler
                              Nov 13 at 17:49










                            • @Basstickler I don't think there's any reason these progressions can't be used in a minimalist composition. Here's G, G7, Cm with two-note voicings, for example. I'm honestly not really understanding your criticism here. Do you think I should try to explain how I would go about voicing these chords?
                              – Radiodef
                              Nov 13 at 18:09










                            • I don't think that your answer is wrong in general or that it's impossible to accomplish in a minimalist setting, just that it doesn't seem to address what the OP is talking about with the addition of the Eb sounding abrupt.
                              – Basstickler
                              Nov 13 at 18:16


















                            • I think the issue here is that the OP is trying to accomplish this in a minimalist setting, so a whole bunch of chord changes isn't likely to help.
                              – Basstickler
                              Nov 13 at 16:57










                            • @Basstickler There's no reason they can't use fewer chords than my example. G, Cm is the only necessary part, or something like D, G, Cm if they want to spend more time setting it up.
                              – Radiodef
                              Nov 13 at 17:12






                            • 1




                              I think it just depends on how minimalist they are going for. Extreme minimalism may not even really have chord progressions. Ultimately, I'd argue that the answer you've supplied makes sense for a modulation but doesn't seem to satisfy what the OP is asking for, particularly that they are stating that the inclusion of the Eb in the C minor chord feels abrupt. It's true that G is the dominant in C minor and that it acts as a good pivot chord but ultimately that doesn't help the fact that the modulation to minor is jarring.
                              – Basstickler
                              Nov 13 at 17:49










                            • @Basstickler I don't think there's any reason these progressions can't be used in a minimalist composition. Here's G, G7, Cm with two-note voicings, for example. I'm honestly not really understanding your criticism here. Do you think I should try to explain how I would go about voicing these chords?
                              – Radiodef
                              Nov 13 at 18:09










                            • I don't think that your answer is wrong in general or that it's impossible to accomplish in a minimalist setting, just that it doesn't seem to address what the OP is talking about with the addition of the Eb sounding abrupt.
                              – Basstickler
                              Nov 13 at 18:16
















                            I think the issue here is that the OP is trying to accomplish this in a minimalist setting, so a whole bunch of chord changes isn't likely to help.
                            – Basstickler
                            Nov 13 at 16:57




                            I think the issue here is that the OP is trying to accomplish this in a minimalist setting, so a whole bunch of chord changes isn't likely to help.
                            – Basstickler
                            Nov 13 at 16:57












                            @Basstickler There's no reason they can't use fewer chords than my example. G, Cm is the only necessary part, or something like D, G, Cm if they want to spend more time setting it up.
                            – Radiodef
                            Nov 13 at 17:12




                            @Basstickler There's no reason they can't use fewer chords than my example. G, Cm is the only necessary part, or something like D, G, Cm if they want to spend more time setting it up.
                            – Radiodef
                            Nov 13 at 17:12




                            1




                            1




                            I think it just depends on how minimalist they are going for. Extreme minimalism may not even really have chord progressions. Ultimately, I'd argue that the answer you've supplied makes sense for a modulation but doesn't seem to satisfy what the OP is asking for, particularly that they are stating that the inclusion of the Eb in the C minor chord feels abrupt. It's true that G is the dominant in C minor and that it acts as a good pivot chord but ultimately that doesn't help the fact that the modulation to minor is jarring.
                            – Basstickler
                            Nov 13 at 17:49




                            I think it just depends on how minimalist they are going for. Extreme minimalism may not even really have chord progressions. Ultimately, I'd argue that the answer you've supplied makes sense for a modulation but doesn't seem to satisfy what the OP is asking for, particularly that they are stating that the inclusion of the Eb in the C minor chord feels abrupt. It's true that G is the dominant in C minor and that it acts as a good pivot chord but ultimately that doesn't help the fact that the modulation to minor is jarring.
                            – Basstickler
                            Nov 13 at 17:49












                            @Basstickler I don't think there's any reason these progressions can't be used in a minimalist composition. Here's G, G7, Cm with two-note voicings, for example. I'm honestly not really understanding your criticism here. Do you think I should try to explain how I would go about voicing these chords?
                            – Radiodef
                            Nov 13 at 18:09




                            @Basstickler I don't think there's any reason these progressions can't be used in a minimalist composition. Here's G, G7, Cm with two-note voicings, for example. I'm honestly not really understanding your criticism here. Do you think I should try to explain how I would go about voicing these chords?
                            – Radiodef
                            Nov 13 at 18:09












                            I don't think that your answer is wrong in general or that it's impossible to accomplish in a minimalist setting, just that it doesn't seem to address what the OP is talking about with the addition of the Eb sounding abrupt.
                            – Basstickler
                            Nov 13 at 18:16




                            I don't think that your answer is wrong in general or that it's impossible to accomplish in a minimalist setting, just that it doesn't seem to address what the OP is talking about with the addition of the Eb sounding abrupt.
                            – Basstickler
                            Nov 13 at 18:16










                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote













                            A modulation from G major to C minor would be a modulation to the subdominant.



                            The most straight forward way to to the subdominant is the lower the leading tone and apply it to the tonic chord. In G major, change the F sharp to F natural and add it to the tonic G chord. So the tonic I chord in G major will become the dominant V7 in C (major or minor.)



                            The interesting part is your concern about the tone E flat and the possibility it could be jarring.



                            The vii°7 in G major is F#,A,C,Eb so you could use that to move into G and introduce the E flat. Something like G: vii°7 I Cm: V4/2 i6/3.



                            Another possibility is to go to the major IV first then just lower the third to make it minor iv. If that is combined with the G7 you will get a nice chromatic descent F,E,Eb plus both work with the notion of altering tones by lowering them.





                            EDIT



                            Forgot to load an image yesterday. I added a third example trying out two converging chromatic lines.



                            enter image description here






                            share|improve this answer



























                              up vote
                              2
                              down vote













                              A modulation from G major to C minor would be a modulation to the subdominant.



                              The most straight forward way to to the subdominant is the lower the leading tone and apply it to the tonic chord. In G major, change the F sharp to F natural and add it to the tonic G chord. So the tonic I chord in G major will become the dominant V7 in C (major or minor.)



                              The interesting part is your concern about the tone E flat and the possibility it could be jarring.



                              The vii°7 in G major is F#,A,C,Eb so you could use that to move into G and introduce the E flat. Something like G: vii°7 I Cm: V4/2 i6/3.



                              Another possibility is to go to the major IV first then just lower the third to make it minor iv. If that is combined with the G7 you will get a nice chromatic descent F,E,Eb plus both work with the notion of altering tones by lowering them.





                              EDIT



                              Forgot to load an image yesterday. I added a third example trying out two converging chromatic lines.



                              enter image description here






                              share|improve this answer

























                                up vote
                                2
                                down vote










                                up vote
                                2
                                down vote









                                A modulation from G major to C minor would be a modulation to the subdominant.



                                The most straight forward way to to the subdominant is the lower the leading tone and apply it to the tonic chord. In G major, change the F sharp to F natural and add it to the tonic G chord. So the tonic I chord in G major will become the dominant V7 in C (major or minor.)



                                The interesting part is your concern about the tone E flat and the possibility it could be jarring.



                                The vii°7 in G major is F#,A,C,Eb so you could use that to move into G and introduce the E flat. Something like G: vii°7 I Cm: V4/2 i6/3.



                                Another possibility is to go to the major IV first then just lower the third to make it minor iv. If that is combined with the G7 you will get a nice chromatic descent F,E,Eb plus both work with the notion of altering tones by lowering them.





                                EDIT



                                Forgot to load an image yesterday. I added a third example trying out two converging chromatic lines.



                                enter image description here






                                share|improve this answer














                                A modulation from G major to C minor would be a modulation to the subdominant.



                                The most straight forward way to to the subdominant is the lower the leading tone and apply it to the tonic chord. In G major, change the F sharp to F natural and add it to the tonic G chord. So the tonic I chord in G major will become the dominant V7 in C (major or minor.)



                                The interesting part is your concern about the tone E flat and the possibility it could be jarring.



                                The vii°7 in G major is F#,A,C,Eb so you could use that to move into G and introduce the E flat. Something like G: vii°7 I Cm: V4/2 i6/3.



                                Another possibility is to go to the major IV first then just lower the third to make it minor iv. If that is combined with the G7 you will get a nice chromatic descent F,E,Eb plus both work with the notion of altering tones by lowering them.





                                EDIT



                                Forgot to load an image yesterday. I added a third example trying out two converging chromatic lines.



                                enter image description here







                                share|improve this answer














                                share|improve this answer



                                share|improve this answer








                                edited Nov 13 at 21:32

























                                answered Nov 12 at 21:36









                                Michael Curtis

                                4,046322




                                4,046322






















                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote













                                    Modulations should make use of pivot chords to make the modulation smooth.



                                    A pivot chord(s) put simply is chords that fit in both the key you are modulating towards and the key you are coming from.



                                    so for instance, if you have a 4 bar phrase in C Major. Let say your phrase ends on an interrupted cadence. Now that six-chord of C major is an a minor chord, this is conveniently also the tonic chord of a minor. Both these chords are a suitable resolution to your cadence.



                                    Now we are in the second chord of your second four bar phrase now you can go to the d minor chord that is again both C:ii and a:iv this is the second pivot chord you can use.



                                    Then finally we would just have an E Major chord with a raised g# tha resolves correctly to now make it clear that we are in a minor. There is nothing that makes modulations as clear as Leading Tones resolving towards a Tonic.



                                    Some modulations lend themselves more towards the use of pivot chords than others but the modulation to the relative minor is an especially easy one to use them with.






                                    share|improve this answer

















                                    • 5




                                      All very well and fancy. But OP wants to get to C MINOR.
                                      – Tim
                                      Nov 12 at 21:05















                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote













                                    Modulations should make use of pivot chords to make the modulation smooth.



                                    A pivot chord(s) put simply is chords that fit in both the key you are modulating towards and the key you are coming from.



                                    so for instance, if you have a 4 bar phrase in C Major. Let say your phrase ends on an interrupted cadence. Now that six-chord of C major is an a minor chord, this is conveniently also the tonic chord of a minor. Both these chords are a suitable resolution to your cadence.



                                    Now we are in the second chord of your second four bar phrase now you can go to the d minor chord that is again both C:ii and a:iv this is the second pivot chord you can use.



                                    Then finally we would just have an E Major chord with a raised g# tha resolves correctly to now make it clear that we are in a minor. There is nothing that makes modulations as clear as Leading Tones resolving towards a Tonic.



                                    Some modulations lend themselves more towards the use of pivot chords than others but the modulation to the relative minor is an especially easy one to use them with.






                                    share|improve this answer

















                                    • 5




                                      All very well and fancy. But OP wants to get to C MINOR.
                                      – Tim
                                      Nov 12 at 21:05













                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote










                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote









                                    Modulations should make use of pivot chords to make the modulation smooth.



                                    A pivot chord(s) put simply is chords that fit in both the key you are modulating towards and the key you are coming from.



                                    so for instance, if you have a 4 bar phrase in C Major. Let say your phrase ends on an interrupted cadence. Now that six-chord of C major is an a minor chord, this is conveniently also the tonic chord of a minor. Both these chords are a suitable resolution to your cadence.



                                    Now we are in the second chord of your second four bar phrase now you can go to the d minor chord that is again both C:ii and a:iv this is the second pivot chord you can use.



                                    Then finally we would just have an E Major chord with a raised g# tha resolves correctly to now make it clear that we are in a minor. There is nothing that makes modulations as clear as Leading Tones resolving towards a Tonic.



                                    Some modulations lend themselves more towards the use of pivot chords than others but the modulation to the relative minor is an especially easy one to use them with.






                                    share|improve this answer












                                    Modulations should make use of pivot chords to make the modulation smooth.



                                    A pivot chord(s) put simply is chords that fit in both the key you are modulating towards and the key you are coming from.



                                    so for instance, if you have a 4 bar phrase in C Major. Let say your phrase ends on an interrupted cadence. Now that six-chord of C major is an a minor chord, this is conveniently also the tonic chord of a minor. Both these chords are a suitable resolution to your cadence.



                                    Now we are in the second chord of your second four bar phrase now you can go to the d minor chord that is again both C:ii and a:iv this is the second pivot chord you can use.



                                    Then finally we would just have an E Major chord with a raised g# tha resolves correctly to now make it clear that we are in a minor. There is nothing that makes modulations as clear as Leading Tones resolving towards a Tonic.



                                    Some modulations lend themselves more towards the use of pivot chords than others but the modulation to the relative minor is an especially easy one to use them with.







                                    share|improve this answer












                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer










                                    answered Nov 12 at 18:29









                                    Neil Meyer

                                    8,64022648




                                    8,64022648








                                    • 5




                                      All very well and fancy. But OP wants to get to C MINOR.
                                      – Tim
                                      Nov 12 at 21:05














                                    • 5




                                      All very well and fancy. But OP wants to get to C MINOR.
                                      – Tim
                                      Nov 12 at 21:05








                                    5




                                    5




                                    All very well and fancy. But OP wants to get to C MINOR.
                                    – Tim
                                    Nov 12 at 21:05




                                    All very well and fancy. But OP wants to get to C MINOR.
                                    – Tim
                                    Nov 12 at 21:05










                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote













                                    The progression I I7 IV iv is quite common. If you were to establish that as a pattern in G major, but gradually shift the rythmic emphasis away from the I and IV and toward the I7 and iv, then those two chords could come to be perceived as the V7 and i of C minor, without there necessarily having been any clear point where the piece switched key.






                                    share|improve this answer

























                                      up vote
                                      1
                                      down vote













                                      The progression I I7 IV iv is quite common. If you were to establish that as a pattern in G major, but gradually shift the rythmic emphasis away from the I and IV and toward the I7 and iv, then those two chords could come to be perceived as the V7 and i of C minor, without there necessarily having been any clear point where the piece switched key.






                                      share|improve this answer























                                        up vote
                                        1
                                        down vote










                                        up vote
                                        1
                                        down vote









                                        The progression I I7 IV iv is quite common. If you were to establish that as a pattern in G major, but gradually shift the rythmic emphasis away from the I and IV and toward the I7 and iv, then those two chords could come to be perceived as the V7 and i of C minor, without there necessarily having been any clear point where the piece switched key.






                                        share|improve this answer












                                        The progression I I7 IV iv is quite common. If you were to establish that as a pattern in G major, but gradually shift the rythmic emphasis away from the I and IV and toward the I7 and iv, then those two chords could come to be perceived as the V7 and i of C minor, without there necessarily having been any clear point where the piece switched key.







                                        share|improve this answer












                                        share|improve this answer



                                        share|improve this answer










                                        answered Nov 13 at 21:24









                                        supercat

                                        2,264914




                                        2,264914






















                                            up vote
                                            0
                                            down vote













                                            In case anyone's interested: I've solved, to my own satisfaction, the change of mode part of my question, in a rather unexpected way, by transitioning first to F sharp Aeolian. Of course, I'm still way off C minor, but modulating through minor-like modes and keys makes it easier (I hope). I think the main lesson here is that key transition doesn't necessarily involve advanced "chord magic" (although it can). Stylistically speaking, it's more about setting up proper expectations and then refuting those in a convincing way than anything else.



                                            The repeat bars all involve two repetitions instead of the usual one, by the way. The key of G major had been very firmly established beforehand. I want to end with a modulation from C minor back to D minor (hence the key signature), followed of course by a protracted cadence in that key.



                                            enter image description here



                                            Follow-up question (to all you harpists out there): is the stuff I wrote for the harp at all playable, assuming a reasonably competent harpist? (The tempo is very slow, like 45 BPM.)






                                            share|improve this answer



























                                              up vote
                                              0
                                              down vote













                                              In case anyone's interested: I've solved, to my own satisfaction, the change of mode part of my question, in a rather unexpected way, by transitioning first to F sharp Aeolian. Of course, I'm still way off C minor, but modulating through minor-like modes and keys makes it easier (I hope). I think the main lesson here is that key transition doesn't necessarily involve advanced "chord magic" (although it can). Stylistically speaking, it's more about setting up proper expectations and then refuting those in a convincing way than anything else.



                                              The repeat bars all involve two repetitions instead of the usual one, by the way. The key of G major had been very firmly established beforehand. I want to end with a modulation from C minor back to D minor (hence the key signature), followed of course by a protracted cadence in that key.



                                              enter image description here



                                              Follow-up question (to all you harpists out there): is the stuff I wrote for the harp at all playable, assuming a reasonably competent harpist? (The tempo is very slow, like 45 BPM.)






                                              share|improve this answer

























                                                up vote
                                                0
                                                down vote










                                                up vote
                                                0
                                                down vote









                                                In case anyone's interested: I've solved, to my own satisfaction, the change of mode part of my question, in a rather unexpected way, by transitioning first to F sharp Aeolian. Of course, I'm still way off C minor, but modulating through minor-like modes and keys makes it easier (I hope). I think the main lesson here is that key transition doesn't necessarily involve advanced "chord magic" (although it can). Stylistically speaking, it's more about setting up proper expectations and then refuting those in a convincing way than anything else.



                                                The repeat bars all involve two repetitions instead of the usual one, by the way. The key of G major had been very firmly established beforehand. I want to end with a modulation from C minor back to D minor (hence the key signature), followed of course by a protracted cadence in that key.



                                                enter image description here



                                                Follow-up question (to all you harpists out there): is the stuff I wrote for the harp at all playable, assuming a reasonably competent harpist? (The tempo is very slow, like 45 BPM.)






                                                share|improve this answer














                                                In case anyone's interested: I've solved, to my own satisfaction, the change of mode part of my question, in a rather unexpected way, by transitioning first to F sharp Aeolian. Of course, I'm still way off C minor, but modulating through minor-like modes and keys makes it easier (I hope). I think the main lesson here is that key transition doesn't necessarily involve advanced "chord magic" (although it can). Stylistically speaking, it's more about setting up proper expectations and then refuting those in a convincing way than anything else.



                                                The repeat bars all involve two repetitions instead of the usual one, by the way. The key of G major had been very firmly established beforehand. I want to end with a modulation from C minor back to D minor (hence the key signature), followed of course by a protracted cadence in that key.



                                                enter image description here



                                                Follow-up question (to all you harpists out there): is the stuff I wrote for the harp at all playable, assuming a reasonably competent harpist? (The tempo is very slow, like 45 BPM.)







                                                share|improve this answer














                                                share|improve this answer



                                                share|improve this answer








                                                edited Nov 14 at 0:40

























                                                answered Nov 14 at 0:30









                                                Kim Fierens

                                                48059




                                                48059






























                                                     

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