Embedded Files
“Step-Up” Modulations (Modulations up a whole or half step)
“Step-Up” Modulations (Modulations up a whole or half step)
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
Modulation to the Relative Major/Minor
[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
Modulation to Other Keys
Modulation to Other Keys
2) 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
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
“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
3) Girls' Generation, “Into the New World,” bridge and final chorus
From Girls' Generation (2007), written by Kenzie, lyrics by Kim Jeong-bae
Audio: YouTube (3:51–4:20)
[Bridge]
Am7 Bm7
i sungan ttaseuhage gamgyeo one
C D E
modeun naye tteollim jeonhallae ~~~~~~~~~
[Final Chorus]
D E F#m
saranghae neol i neukkim idaero
D E F#m
geuryeo watteon hemaeime kkeut
D E/D C#m7 F#m
i sesang sogeseo banbokdweneun
G C#sus4-3
seulpeum ijen annyeong
“Step-Down” Modulations (modulations down a whole or half step)
“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?
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
5) Nickel Creek, “Love of Mine,” first half
From A Dotted Line (2014), written by Chris Thile
Audio: YouTube (0:00-2:07)
Identify the keys, and then ID the chords with Roman Numerals or Nashville Numbers. There's a bit of key ambiguity, so use your ears and look for cadences.
How are the two keys linked?
F#mi A
Love of mine when you're
D Bmi
born I tell myself that you'll
C#mi F#mi
never die
F#mi A
And I throw my arms around
D Bmi
the girl who finds you
C#mi D
'Cause the world is rosier,
B/D# E
through your eyes
Fmi Ab
I don't suppose you caught
Db
her name
F#mi A
Never mind I'll just
D Bmi
name her after you,
C#mi F#mi
love of mine
F#mi A
I'll fashion her into a sweet
D Bmi
long-legged icon making all
C#mi D
praise holier
B/D# E
Satisfied
Fmi Ab
Oh, but she gave us to
Db Ab
each other
Db Ab
The only thing she's done for
Eb Db
me that you could never do
Fmi Ab
For that she'll always be
Db Ab
remembered
Db Fmi
After she discovers I don't
Cmi Bbmi
love her half as much as you
Db
F#mi A
Love of mine when she
D Bmi
goes why can't you stay
C#mi E
Here with me
More Examples from Classical Repertoire
More Examples from Classical Repertoire
See the "Modulation" page under Classical Harmony in this Anthology.
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)
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