Modulation

Tonicization

Direct Modulation by Phrase or Section

Step-Up Modulations

Modulation to the Relative Major/Minor

Modulation to Other Keys

“Truck Driver” Modulation

"Step-Down" Modulations (modulations down a whole or half step)

Pivot Chord Modulation (Closely-Related Keys)

Diatonic Pivot Chord Modulation (Distantly-Related Keys)

Chromatic Modulation

Multiple Modulations

Diatonic Pivot Chords and Direct Modulation

Chromatic Modulations

Other Examples

More Examples

Tonicization

1) John Williams, Main Theme

From the film Schindler's List (1994)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:15–1:07)

2) Maria Szymanowska, “Świtezianka” (“Lady of the Świteź Lake”), mm. 13–20

Lyrics by Adem Mickiewicz (ca. 1828)

Scores: PDF, MuseScore
Audio for mm. 5–16: YouTube (0:11–0:46)

3) Louise Reichardt, “Kaeuzlein”

From Zwölf Gesänge No. 8, Op.3

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: mp3

4) Elton John, “Tiny Dancer,” verse 1

From Madman Across the Water (1971), words and music by Elton John and Bernie Taupin

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:13–1:07)

5) Johanna Kinkel, “Der Spanische Zitherknabe,” mm. 5–12

From 6 Gedichte, Op. 8 (1838), words by Emanuel Geibel

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:09–0:26)

6) Louise Farrenc, “Etude in E minor,” mm. 18–33

From 30 Etudes No. 5, Op. 26 (1876)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:12–0:24)

7) Hideki Kanazashi, “Floor Theme,” mm. 1–8

From the video game Adventures of Lolo (1989)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:02–0:19)

8) Nobuo Uematsu, “Opening Theme,” mm. 1–8

From the video game Final Fantasy (1987)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:20)

Direct Modulation by Phrase or Section

Step-Up Modulations

1) Beyoncé, “Love on Top,” chorus

From 4 (2011), written by The-Dream, Shea Taylor, and Beyoncé

Scores: PDF, Musescore
Audio: YouTube (1:01–3:07)

2) Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You,” verse 3 and chorus

From the film, The Bodyguard (1992), written by Dolly Parton

Audio: YouTube (2:36–4:04)

[Verse]

A E A

I hope, life treats you kind

F#m E

And I hope, you have all

D E

You've dreamed of

A

And I wish to you joy, and happiness

F#m

But above all of this

E D E

I wish you love

[Chorus]

B G#m E F#

And I__________ will always

B G#m E F# B

Love you, I, will always love you

G#m E F# B

I will always love you

G#m E F# B

I will always love you

G#m C#m7 F# B

I will al - ways love you

G#m E F# B

I will al - ways love you

3) Whitney Houston, “I Have Nothing,” final chorus

From the film The Bodyguard (1992), written by David Foster and Linda Johnson

Audio: YouTube (3:09–4:27)

[Chorus]

E♭M7 Cm7

But don't make me close one more door

Dm7 Gm7

I don't wanna hurt anymore

B♭/F E♭M7 Cm7

Stay in my arms if you dare

Dm7 Gm7

Or must I imagine you there

B♭/F Cm7 Dm7 Gm7

Don't walk away from me

E♭M7 B♭/D E♭/F

I have nothing, nothing, nothing

[Chorus]

F7 EM7 C#m7

Don't make me close one more door

D#m7 G#m7

I don't wanna hurt anymore

B/F# EM7 C#m7

Stay in my arms if you dare

D#m7 G#m7

Or must I imagine you there

B/F# C#m7 D#m7 G#m7

Don't walk away from me, no

C#m7 D#m7 G#m7

Don't walk away from me

C#m7 D#m7

Don't you dare walk away from me

EM7 B/D# E/F#

I have nothing, nothing, nothing

F#7 B

If I don't have you

3) Michael Jackson, “Man in the Mirror,” chorus

From Bad (1987), written by Glen Ballard & Siedah Garrett

Audio: YouTube (2:33–3:02)

G G/B C C/D

I'm starting with the man in the mirror

G G/B C C/D

I'm asking him to change his ways

G G/B C A/C#

And no message could have been any clearer

Daug7#9

If you wanna make the world a better place

A♭

Take a look at yourself, and then make that change!

A♭/C D♭ D♭/E♭

I'm starting with the man in the mirror

A♭ A♭/C D♭ D♭/E♭

I'm asking him to change his ways.

5) Frank Sinatra, “Strangers in the Night”

From Strangers in the Night (1966), written by Eddie Snyder, Charles Singleton, and Bert Kaempfert

Audio: YouTube (1:52–2:19)

F/C Dm Gm7 C7

Love was just a glance away, a warm embracing dance away

G

Ever since that night we've been together

GM7

Lovers at first sight, in love forever

Am7 D7 Am7 D7 G

It turned out so right for strangers in the night

6) BTS, “Dynamite,” final chorus

From BE (2020), written by David Stewart and Jessica Agombar

Audio: YouTube (2:46–3:20)

Dm Gm C F

'Cause ah-ah, I'm in the stars tonight

Dm Gm C F

So watch me bring the fire and set the night alight

Dm Gm C F

Shining through the city with a little funk and soul

Dm Gm C F

So I'ma light it up like dynamite

Em Am D G

(This is ah) I'm in the stars tonight

Em Am D G

So watch me bring the fire and set the night alight

Em Am D G

Shining through the city with a little funk and soul

Em Am D G

So I'ma light it up like dynamite, woah

Modulation to the Relative Major/Minor

1) Joseph Bologne, movt. 1, mm. 6–13

From String Quartet No. 5, Op. 1

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (25:35–25:49)

2) Florence Price, “The Deserted Garden”

(1933)

Scores: PDF, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube

3) Coldplay, “Clocks,” verse 2 and bridge

From A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), written by Chris Martin, Will Champion, Jonny Buckland & Guy Berryman

Audio:
- Verse 2: YouTube (1:27–1:58)
- Bridge: YouTube (2:56–3:21)

[Verse 2]

E♭ B♭m Fm7
Confusion never stops, closing walls and ticking clocks. Gonna -

E♭ B♭m Fm7
come back and take you home, I could not stop that you now know - singing

E♭ B♭m Fm7
Come out upon my seas, curse missed opportunities. Am I -

E♭ B♭m Fm7
A part of the cure, or am I a part of the disease? Singing...

[Bridge]

G♭maj7 D♭ A♭6
And nothing else compares

G♭maj7 D♭ A♭6
Oh, nothing else compares

G♭maj7 D♭ A♭6
And nothing else compares

4) U2, “Sunday Bloody Sunday”

From War (1983), written by Bono, The Edge (Guitarist), Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Jr

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (1:09–1:25)

5) Taylor Swift, “Guilty as Sin?,” verse 1 and chorus

From The Tortured Poets Department (2024), written by Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff

Verse 1

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:04-0:26)

Chorus

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:44–1:04)

Verse 1

Chorus

Modulation to Other Keys

1) The Beatles, “Something,” verse 2, chorus, and bridge

From Abbey Road (1969), written by George Harrison

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:38–1:39)

6) Celine Dion, “My Heart Will Go On,” final chorus

From Let's Talk About Love (1997), written by James Horner and Will Jennings

Audio: YouTube (2:26–4:08)

[Chorus]

C#m B/D# A B
Near, far, wherever you are

C#m B A B
I believe that the heart does go on

C#m B A B
Once more, you open the door

C#m G#m
And you're here in my heart

A E/B B C#m
And my heart will go on and on

[Instrumental Interlude]

C#m B A C#m B A G#7

[Chorus]

Fm E♭ D♭ E♭
You're here, there's nothing I fear

Fm E♭ D♭ E♭
And I know that my heart will go on

Fm E♭ D♭ E♭
We'll stay forever this way

Fm Cm
You are safe in my heart

D♭ A♭/E♭ E♭ A♭
And my heart will go on and on

3) Stephen Sondheim, “By the Sea”

From Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979), words and music by Stephen Sondheim, performed by Annaleigh Ashford and Josh Groban

Audio: YouTube (2:01–2:42)

[Chorus]

AM7
By the sea

E7/A
Don't you love the weather?

AM7
By the sea

E/D
We'll grow old together

AM7/E
By the seaside

D/E
Hoo! Hoo!

E7 AM7
By the beautiful sea

[Spoken Dialogue Interlude]

| : AM7 DM7 : | (x4)

| : D♭M7 D♭7 : | (x2)

| : D♭M7 D♭add♭6 : | (x2)

[Bridge]

D♭M7
It'll be so quiet

That who'll come by it

D♭sus4 E♭m 7
Except a seagull?

A♭sus4 A♭7
Hoo! Hoo!

D♭M7
We shouldn't try it

Though, till it's legal

A♭sus4 A♭7 A♭m7 A♭9
For two - hoo!

4) Sabrina Carpenter, “Please, Please, Please,” verse 1

From Short n’ Sweet (2024), written by Sabrina Carpenter, Jack Antonoff & Amy Allen

Audio (verse 1a): YouTube (1:16–1:33)
Audio (verse 2): YouTube (2:28–2:47)
Harmonic Rhythm: Verse 1a
| A | F#7 | Bm | Bm| D | D/C# | E | E | (x2)
Harmonic Rhythm: Verse 2
| C | A7 | Dm | Dm| F | C/E | G | G7sus | (x2)

Verse 1a

A F#7

I know I have good judgment, I know I have good taste

Bm

It's funny and it's ironic that only I feel that way

D D/C#

I promise 'em that you're different and everyone makes mistakes

E

But just don't . . .

Verse 2

C A7

I have a fun idea, babe: maybe just stay inside.

Dm

I know you're craving some fresh air, but the ceiling fan is so nice.

F C/E

And we could live so happily if no one knows that you're with me.

G G7sus

I'm just kidding. But really, really, really . . .

“Truck Driver” Modulation

The term is coined by Walter Everett. These are modulations that use the dominant of the new key at the end of a phrase/section to "shift" into the new tonic (usually a step up).

1) Adele, “All I Ask,” bridge and chorus

From 25 (2015), written by Brody Brown, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Adele

Audio: YouTube (3:24–3:55)

[Bridge]

G# G#/B G#/D# C#m
I don't wanna be cruel or vicious

C#m/G# F#m7
And I ain't asking for forgiveness

A/B C7
All I ask is . . .

[Chorus]

F D7 D7/F# Gm7
If this is my last night with you

Bb/C C/E F
Hold me like I'm more than just a friend

2) Fiona Apple, “Paper Bag,” chorus and verse

From When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts... (1999), written by Fiona Apple

Audio: YouTube (0:49–1:29)

[Chorus]

G Cmaj7 F#11 G
Hunger hurts, and I want him so bad, oh it kills

Cmaj7 F9#11
'Cause I know I'm a mess he don't wanna clean up

G Cmaj7 F9#11 G
I got to fold 'cause these hands are too shaky to hold

Em7 A7
Hunger hurts, but starving works,

F7 G B7#9
when it costs too much to love

[Verse 2]

E C G
And I went crazy again today,

Bm7 E C G B7
Looking for a strand to climb, looking for a little hope

"Step-Down" Modulations (modulations down a whole or half step)

1) Derek and the Dominos, “Layla,” intro and chorus

From Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970), written by Rita Coolidge, Jim Gordon, and Eric Clapton

Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:57)

[Intro]

| : E♭m C♭ D♭ E♭m : | (x5)

E♭m. C♭ D♭

[Verse 1]

Dm Am
What'll you do when you get lonely

Dm D♭ E♭ F
And nobody's waiting by your side?

F: Gm7 C7 F B♭
You've been runnin' and hidin' much too long

Gm 7 C7 F
You know it's just your foolish pride

[Chorus]

B♭ E♭m C♭
Layla

D♭ E♭m
You've got me on my knees

C♭
Layla

D♭ E♭m
I'm begging, darling, please

C♭
Layla

D♭ E♭m C♭ D♭
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?

2) The Kinks, “Tired of Waiting for You,” chorus and verse 1

From Kinda Kinks (1965), written by Ray Davies

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:08–0:45)

3) The Beatles, “Penny Lane,” verse 2 and chorus

From Magical Mystery Tour (1967), written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Audio: YouTube (0:08–0:45)

[Verse 2]

B B/A# G#m7 B/F# E C#m E/F#
On the corner is a banker with a motorcar

F#7 B B/A# G#m7 B/F# Bm7
The little children laugh at him behind his back

G#ø7 GM7
And the banker never wears a mac

F#7sus4 F#7
In the pouring rain

E
Very strange

[Chorus]

A A/C# D
Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes

A A/C# D
There beneath the blue suburban skies

F#/C# F#
I sit and meanwhile back

4) Bon Jovi, “Always,” chorus and bridge

From Cross Road (1994), written by Jon Bon Jovi

Audio: YouTube (2:09–3:03)

[Chorus]

E B F#m7 C#m B
And I will love you, baby, al - ways

E B A C#m B
And I'll be there, forever and a day, al - ways

[Bridge]

D G
If you told me to cry for you

A
I could

D G
If you told me to die for you

A
I would

Bm A/B
Take a look at my face

G D/F# A
There's no price I won't pay

To say these words to you

Pivot Chord Modulation (Closely-Related Keys)

1) Josephe Bologne, movt. 1, mm. 10

From String Quartet No. 1, Op. 1 (1771)

Scores: Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:41–0:43)

2) Cécile Chaminade, “Églogue,” mm. 1–8

From Album des Enfants, Op. 126 (1907)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (1:17–1:41)

3) Johanna Kinkel, “An Luna,” mm. 1–8

From 6 Lieder No. 4, Op. 6 (1839), lyrics by Heinrich Heinel

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: mp3

4) Joseph Bologne, movt. 2, mm. 180–187

From String Quartet No. 6, Op. 1 (1771)

Scores: PDF, Image
Audio: YouTube (40:07–40:19)

5) Louise Farrenc, “Étude in A Minor,” mm. 1–8

From 25 Études Progressives, Op. 50 (ca. 1859–63)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:01–0:22)

6) Gussie L. Davis, “The Fatal Wedding: Descriptive Waltz Song,” mm.78–93

(1893)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (2:05–2:30)

7) Fanny (Mendelssohn) Hensel, “Wanderlied,” mm. 3–13

From 6 Lieder, Op. 1 (1846), lyrics by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:02–0:19)

8) Josephine Lang, “Das Paradies,” mm. 9–16

From Sechs Lieder No. 6, Op. 25 (ca. 1838–1860), lyrics by Friedrich Rückert

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:09–0:21)

9) Bob Cole, “The Katy-did, the Cricket and the Frog,” mm. 14–23

Lyrics by James Weldon Johnson (1903)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:24–0:42)

10) Josephine Lang, “Im Frühling,” mm. 21–30

From Sechs Lieder No. 4, Op. 10 (1841), lyrics by Wilhelm Wackernagelt

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:33–0:58)

11) Louise Reichardt, “Poesie von Tieck”

From 12 Deutsche und Italianische Romantische Gesange No. 8

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: mp3

12) Amy Beach, “Twilight,” mm. 1–8

From Summer Dreams No. 18, Op. 47 (1901)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:24)

13) Chiquinha Gonzaga, “Choro Habanera,” mm. 4–11

(1898)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:06–0:18)

14) Louise Reichardt, “An Maria,” mm. 1–8

From Zwölf Gesänge No. 11, Op.3 (1811)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:30)

15) Louise Reichardt, “Wenn ich ihn nur habe,”mm. 1–9

From Zwölf Deutsche und Italiänische Romantische Gesänge No. 2 (1811)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:25)

16) Harry T. Burleigh, “Through Moanin' Pines”

From Piano Sketches: From the Southland No. 1 (1916)

Scores: Image
Audio: YouTube (0:02–0:30)
Note: Challenging example.

17) U2, “One,” verse 1 and chorus

From Achtung Baby (1991), written by Bono, The Edge (Guitarist), Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Jr

Audio: YouTube (0:13–0:57), mp3

[Verse ]

Am D
Is it getting better

F G
Or do you feel the same

Am D
Will it make it easier on you now

F G
you've got someone to blame

[Chorus]

C Am
You say one love one life

F C
When it's one need in the night

C Am
One love we get to share it

F C Am
It leaves you baby if you don't care for it

18) Fastball, “The Way,” verse 1 and chorus

From All the Pain Money Can Buy (1998), written by Tony Scalzo

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: mp3

19) Corona Schröter, "Die Watchel"

From 25 Lieder (1786)

Scores: PDF, MuseScore
Audio: __

20) Louise Farrenc, “Etude in D Major,” mm. 1–16

From 30 Etudes No. 3, Op. 26 (1876)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:20)

21) Heart, “Alone,” verse 1, chorus, and verse 2

From Bad Animal (1987), written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:11–1:23)

22) Carole King, “You've Got a Friend,” verse and chorus

From Tapestry (1971), written by Carole King

Audio: YouTube (0:11–1:49)

[Verse]

C7 Fm C7
When you're down and troubled

Fm C7/G Fm/A♭ Gø7 Fm
And you need some loving care

B♭m7 E♭7 A♭
And nothing, nothing is going right

Gm7 C7 B♭/C C7
Close your eyes and think of me

Fm C7/G Fm/A♭ C7/G Fm

And soon I will be there

B♭m7 Cm7 D♭/E♭ E♭
To brighten up even your darkest night

[Chorus]

D♭/E♭ A♭
You just call out my name

D♭
And you know wherever I am

A♭
I'll come running

D♭/E♭
To see you again

A♭ A♭M7
Winter, spring, summer or fall

D♭M7 B♭m/D♭ Fm
All you have to do is call

A♭7/E♭ D♭M7 Cm7 B♭m7 D♭/E♭
And I'll be there

A♭ D♭/A♭ A♭ Gm7 C7
You've got a friend

23) Mark Knopfler, “Once Upon a Time... Storybook Love,” mm. 35–54

From the film The Princess Bride (1987)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (2:03–2:59)

24) Loïsa Puget, “Chansonette,” mm. 9–16

From La Dot D’Auvergne (1841), lyrics by Gustave Lemoine

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: mp3

Diatonic Pivot Chord Modulation (Distantly-Related Keys)

1) Stevie Wonder, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” verse

From Talking Book (1972), written by Stevie Wonder

Audio: YouTube (0:44–1:13)

BM7 EM7 E/F# BM7 EM7 E/F#
I feel like this is the be - ginning

BM7 EM7 E/F# A#ø7 E♭7
Though I've loved you for a million years

A♭M7 D♭M7 D♭/E♭ A♭m
And if I thought our love was ending

C#7 F#7
I'd find myself drowning in my own tears, woah

Chromatic Modulation

1) Johanna Kinkel, “An Luna,” mm. 17–32

From 6 Lieder, Op. 6 (1839), lyrics by Heinrich Heine

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: mp3 (0:35–1:11)

Multiple Modulations

Diatonic Pivot Chords and Direct Modulation

1) Louise Reichardt, “Er besucht den Klostergarten”

From Sechs Lieder von Novalis No. 6, Op. 4 [n.d.]

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube

2) Eugène Dédé, “Miaou! Miaou!,” mm. 52–67

From Op. 238 (1893)

Scores: PDF, MuseScore
Audio: mp3

3) Eugene Dédé, “Sous la Pluie, Polka”

From Op. 247 (1893)

Scores: PDF, MuseScore
Audio: mp3

4) David Arnold, Title theme

From the TV Series Good Omens (2019–2023)

Scores: PDF, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube

5) Loïsa Puget, “Chansonette”

From La Dot D’Auvergne (1841), lyrics by Gustave Lemoine

Scores: PDF, MuseScore
Audio: mp3

6) Jane Savage, Moderato, mm. 1–6

From Keyboard Sonata in G major No. 1, Op. 2 (1783)

Scores: PDF, MuseScore, Braille
Audio: mp3

7) Chico Buarque, “Cordão,” verse 1

From Construção (1971), written by Chico Buarque

Scores: PDF, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:13–1:04)

Chromatic Modulations

1) Billy Joel, “Uptown Girl”

From An Innocent Man (1983), written by Billy Joel

Scores: PDF, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube, mp3

Other Examples

1) Tomohito Nishiura, “Loosha's Theme”

From Professor Layton and the Last Specter (2009)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:45)

More Examples

Paula Maust, Expanding the Music Theory Canon: Modulation
Diverse Music Theory Examples: Tonicization, Pivot Chord and Direct Modulation, Common-tone Modulation, Abrupt and Enharmonic Modulations
Music By Women: Explore the Database (Click on the Harmonic Progression Filter on the left and select Modulation.)
Yale Musical Examples Database: See the "Harmonic/Scale" tab at the bottom. (Scrool to the bottom for examples of direct modulation in pop)