Thursday, August 27, 2009

Modulation Question

diggity shwag 6/14/2005 5:28 PM
When modulating (in modern music), is a PAC (perfect authentic cadence) required in the new key, or is that just one of those old school rules particular to classical music?

Don Mock 6/16/2005 2:27 AM
Quite a question there Feng. There are no real rules in modern music about key modulations. Compositions can change keys anytime if it sounds good. And you don't need a classical cadence to lead into a key change. Jazz players write tunes all the time that shift keys using either traditional progressions (II-V-I etc.) or modal or parallel harmonies. Look at a tune like "Maiden Voyage" by Herbie Hancock. It's just the same 11th chord shifting to different keys. Or how about Miles Davis's classic "So What." Two chords......Dm7 and Ebm7. Two keys that are not related and you don't need to try to use leading chords (V to I) to make the tune sound good. -Don Mock

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