Brilliantly explained, once again. I found the minor key pivots surprising because I was expecting them to match up with the major key pivots. But as you pointed out, the options in minor keys are more limited. I love it when you play through the transitions; it's like ear candy, hearing how smooth the transitions are.
Another great lesson. Shows how important it is to map out chords belonging to be scale you’re in and belonging to the scale to which you plan to modulate A lesson on the use of extended and altered chords in modulation would also be of great interest! Thank you, Gareth!
Thank you just what i needed.been stuck in the same diotonic chords for a while now. And didn't quiet know how to use the circle of fiths. Watched a few vidoes on changing chorsd or keys but the first 8 min of this video explains what i needed. I understand now how the composes i listen to were getting the cords from that wasnt diotonic. Opend up another door for me.
This is eye opening, I'm so glad I found this. I recently started composing, but so far I've only relied on my ears - I don't remember much from advanced music theory, because it's been many years since I had lessons. These videos are very helpful, thank you.
That’s most kind. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme. If you value this channel and would like to help us continue to share and develop the content please consider supporting us as a level 1 Maestro by clicking here ruclips.net/channel/UC8yI8P7Zi3yYTsypera-IQgjoin Alternatively you can express your support for the channel by clicking on the Super Thanks button beneath any of our videos. Thank you.
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme. If you value this channel and would like to help us continue to share and develop the content please consider supporting us as a level 1 Maestro by clicking here ruclips.net/channel/UC8yI8P7Zi3yYTsypera-IQgjoin Alternatively you can express your support for the channel by clicking on the Super Thanks button beneath any of our videos. Thank you.
What i also like in harmonic minor is that there are actually more chords available - the sixth chord in A harmonic minor is F, but also it could be F minor, because A harmonic minor has G#, and G# is enharmonic equivalent of Ab. And Fm is F - Ab - C. Hence, it also could be used as a pivot chord to, for example, F minor key. Thanks for video, very inspiring!
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme. If you value this channel and would like to help us continue to share and develop the content please consider supporting us as a level 1 Maestro by clicking here ruclips.net/channel/UC8yI8P7Zi3yYTsypera-IQgjoin Alternatively you can express your support for the channel by clicking on the Super Thanks button beneath any of our videos. Thank you.
Hello mate! Great content, thank you for sharing this knowledge. I`m subscribing on your channel now, excited to look on other videos. Regards from Brasil 🔰
Thank you for the video. When modulating to the relative major, wouldnt we use the natural version of the minor scale? Since the harmonic minor scale is actually an altered form of the natural minor scale we would ideally want to do away with the raised 7th degree who's only purpose is to form a cadence to Am. It seems silly for me to think in terms of the harmonic minor scale when modulating to the relative major because I don't have my main chords to do this which are III and bVII and bVII6. By removing the altered leading tone, the natural minor scale naturally gravitates to C major so if we wanted to modulate to C major, wouldn't the best strategy be to simply not use a raised leading tone?
if you're playing in (am harmonic) & you are hitting on an (amM7) chord, could that no longer be considered a pivot chord to the key of (em), because of the G#? for example, in (am harmonic), the chord could be diatonically extended to A-C-E-G#, while in (em), the chord would be a diatonic am7 of A-C-E-G. i guess my real question is, if the common triad (A-C-E) is included, may any further extension tones (altered, etc.) be used at the time of the pivot?
@@MusicMattersGB That is undeniable, but does not answer whether you consider A maj closely related to a min (via the dominant as a pivot). Thinking about it, I am more or less describing a Picardy tierce, so it has to be very closely related, otherwise it would not work as a close.
Sorry I now see that you mean specifically the key of A minor, not just any minor key. Yes the Dominant chord belongs to its tonic major and tonic minor so provides a clear link.
Which role does melody play in this? Would it make sense to hint to the new key using some accidentals in the melody before or even while the pivot chord sounds? (that is, if it does not clash with the non-altered note of the previous key)
Hi, brilliant video as always. Please could you make a video on sixteenth-century two-part counterpoint (specifically for ARCO examination written papers). Thank you
In a minor key the options are fewer than in a major, but the principle is the same. The closest related keys are the parallel major and the relative major, which, as in the major key, is at the minor third distance which is the closest. Keys two signatures apart or a second apart cannot be considered as related, not even in Neapolitan relationships. A dominant can be considered minor only when it is serving a tonic that is also minor, but a minor tonic/major subdominant or major tonic/minor dominant is contradictory and unstable. Here then are the options, which are somewhat fewer than with the major: iv i v VI III I V
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme. If you value this channel and would like to help us continue to share and develop the content please consider supporting us as a level 1 Maestro by clicking here ruclips.net/channel/UC8yI8P7Zi3yYTsypera-IQgjoin Alternatively you can express your support for the channel by clicking on the Super Thanks button beneath any of our videos. Thank you.
A real eye opener for me as I have spent my entire musical career sight reading classical music, thus I never learned anything about music morphology; never needed to.
I don’t quite understand the idea of remote keys. Why for example, when Beethoven modulates from E flat major to E major in his fourth Sonata, is this considered a remote key? Yes, I understand that going from three flats to four sharps is quite a difference on paper, if your are sight reading it, but in terms of what the listener hears, it’s not remote at all. It’s right next-door.
I am always amazed how people, thinking in keys and scales, manage to complicate life. Why not just talking about chords and forget the whole key or scale issue? Why is it necessary to talk about the Dminor-chord as “the second chord of the C-scale”? You could have explained the same topic just by mentioning the chords and forget about the scales all together. Keys are a thing of the past. People thinking in scales are always wondering in what keys popsongs are written. The answer is very clear: they aren’t written in a certain key anymore. Take for instance Jimi Hendrix’ Hey Joe: it has the chords C G D A E. There doesn’t exist any scale in which all the chords fit perfectly. The chord structure changes every measure to one fifth higher. So does this song have five keys with four pivot chords in every phrase to smoothly go to a new key? In classical music, a piece of music composed in C, stayed in the C-scale for almost the entire composition. The composer was proud to never leave the C-scale and to never use any sharps or flats. And then a second part of the song was for instance composed entirely in the G-scale, so he needed a modulation by means of a pivot chord. But as my example of Hey Joe may indicate, jazz, blues and pop-composers compose more freely now and don’t stay stubbornly in one key from start to end anymore. They use chords that go well together within one musical phrase. You could call that pivot chords, but they aren’t needed for a keychange anymore. They just make a nice chord progression together. And yes, sometimes pop-musicians mention “a blues in E” or “Sultans of swing in Bminor”, but that doesn’t indicate the key, just the first chord.
Most music since 1600 is written in keys and most of it modulates from one key to another. It’s okay to call a chord D minor from a playing point of view but it functions within the key very differently if it’s chord I in D minor or chord II in C major because chords have a hierarchy within the key.
@@MusicMattersGB Most music since 1900 isn't written in keys anymore but is purely based on chord progressions, without paying any attention to the key. It is even hard to find a proper key in which many post 1900 pieces have been composed. Many great composers like Lennon and McCartney and many others didn't care about the keys in which they played. Carole Kaye, the basist of many great pop songs literally said: The scales are not important, you have to know the notes of the chords. Your presentation is correct concerning pre-1900 compositions, but is obsolete.
@@MusicMattersGB People are also riding horsebacks, which isn't obsolete either for that reason. But it isn't very useful to explain how transport in general works by just describing horses and carriages. Basing your explanation entirely on keys is a limited and somewhat outdated approach at least.
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Brilliantly explained, once again. I found the minor key pivots surprising because I was expecting them to match up with the major key pivots. But as you pointed out, the options in minor keys are more limited. I love it when you play through the transitions; it's like ear candy, hearing how smooth the transitions are.
That’s great.
Another great lesson. Shows how important it is to map out chords belonging to be scale you’re in and belonging to the scale to which you plan to modulate
A lesson on the use of extended and altered chords in modulation would also be of great interest!
Thank you, Gareth!
Thank you. We’ve got some videos on that but we could certainly produce more.
Thank you just what i needed.been stuck in the same diotonic chords for a while now. And didn't quiet know how to use the circle of fiths. Watched a few vidoes on changing chorsd or keys but the first 8 min of this video explains what i needed. I understand now how the composes i listen to were getting the cords from that wasnt diotonic. Opend up another door for me.
Excellent. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk
I hope your health is doing okay sir! I'm saying this as a subscriber who has watched your videos for years.
My health is fine thanks. The weight loss is intentional. Thanks for your concern.
This is eye opening, I'm so glad I found this. I recently started composing, but so far I've only relied on my ears - I don't remember much from advanced music theory, because it's been many years since I had lessons. These videos are very helpful, thank you.
That’s great. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk
Great stuff! Thanks for the info. I'll check out more of these vids.
He’s the best music theory teacher on RUclips
That’s most kind. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme. If you value this channel and would like to help us continue to share and develop the content please consider supporting us as a level 1 Maestro by clicking here ruclips.net/channel/UC8yI8P7Zi3yYTsypera-IQgjoin Alternatively you can express your support for the channel by clicking on the Super Thanks button beneath any of our videos. Thank you.
Gareth, always stimulating stuff you bring. Thank you Sir, Always!
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme. If you value this channel and would like to help us continue to share and develop the content please consider supporting us as a level 1 Maestro by clicking here ruclips.net/channel/UC8yI8P7Zi3yYTsypera-IQgjoin Alternatively you can express your support for the channel by clicking on the Super Thanks button beneath any of our videos. Thank you.
What i also like in harmonic minor is that there are actually more chords available - the sixth chord in A harmonic minor is F, but also it could be F minor, because A harmonic minor has G#, and G# is enharmonic equivalent of Ab. And Fm is F - Ab - C. Hence, it also could be used as a pivot chord to, for example, F minor key. Thanks for video, very inspiring!
A pleasure
Before i watch this video i have no idea about what should I do to change minor keys and you describe this to me very nicely 👍🏻
Glad it’s helpful
Glad it’s helpful
thank you for these . i had lots of problem and now all are discussed well.
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme. If you value this channel and would like to help us continue to share and develop the content please consider supporting us as a level 1 Maestro by clicking here ruclips.net/channel/UC8yI8P7Zi3yYTsypera-IQgjoin Alternatively you can express your support for the channel by clicking on the Super Thanks button beneath any of our videos. Thank you.
Can you recommend any chart that shows all the possible pivot chords?
We have videos that explain the pivot chords for major keys and for minor keys.
@@MusicMattersGB Yes but without a cheat sheet you have to figure it out every time
It’s easier to use the method I explain in the video then you never need a sheet.
Is the next video on Modulating Modes? I understand the concept but would like to see how it's done.
Could do that
@@MusicMattersGB excellent. I do enjoy the abrupt change but sometimes, I would like to be more subtle. So I am looking forward to it!
😀
Hello mate! Great content, thank you for sharing this knowledge. I`m subscribing on your channel now, excited to look on other videos. Regards from Brasil 🔰
A pleasure. Enjoy the channel. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk
Also note that after that first pivot chord example, there's a ii, V, I going to Em
😀
Sir this helped me tremendously
That’s great. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk
Thank you for the video. When modulating to the relative major, wouldnt we use the natural version of the minor scale? Since the harmonic minor scale is actually an altered form of the natural minor scale we would ideally want to do away with the raised 7th degree who's only purpose is to form a cadence to Am. It seems silly for me to think in terms of the harmonic minor scale when modulating to the relative major because I don't have my main chords to do this which are III and bVII and bVII6. By removing the altered leading tone, the natural minor scale naturally gravitates to C major so if we wanted to modulate to C major, wouldn't the best strategy be to simply not use a raised leading tone?
The Western tradition since 1600 has been to use the harmonic minor but of course you can use the natural minor if you wish
Very beautifully explained sir. Thank you so much. I will compose a piece of music this weekend on A minor and modulate to Em :) :).
Enjoy
@@MusicMattersGB Thank you sir.
😀
if you're playing in (am harmonic) & you are hitting on an (amM7) chord, could that no longer be considered a pivot chord to the key of (em), because of the G#?
for example, in (am harmonic), the chord could be diatonically extended to A-C-E-G#, while in (em), the chord would be a diatonic am7 of A-C-E-G.
i guess my real question is, if the common triad (A-C-E) is included, may any further extension tones (altered, etc.) be used at the time of the pivot?
Using an extension in that way would negate it as a pivot chord
Why do you not also consider A maj as a closely related key to a min? Both can be approached from the dominant (particularly the 7th).
A major is closely related to F# minor, it’s relative key.
@@MusicMattersGB That is undeniable, but does not answer whether you consider A maj closely related to a min (via the dominant as a pivot). Thinking about it, I am more or less describing a Picardy tierce, so it has to be very closely related, otherwise it would not work as a close.
Sorry I now see that you mean specifically the key of A minor, not just any minor key. Yes the Dominant chord belongs to its tonic major and tonic minor so provides a clear link.
Which role does melody play in this? Would it make sense to hint to the new key using some accidentals in the melody before or even while the pivot chord sounds? (that is, if it does not clash with the non-altered note of the previous key)
The important thing is that the melody and chords belong to each other. The pivot chord is the critical moment in the modulation.
Hi, brilliant video as always.
Please could you make a video on sixteenth-century two-part counterpoint (specifically for ARCO examination written papers). Thank you
That would need more than a single video. Perhaps an idea for an online course?
@@MusicMattersGB anything at all would help!
😀
In a minor key the options are fewer than in a major, but the principle is the same. The closest related keys are the parallel major and the relative major, which, as in the major key, is at the minor third distance which is the closest. Keys two signatures apart or a second apart cannot be considered as related, not even in Neapolitan relationships. A dominant can be considered minor only when it is serving a tonic that is also minor, but a minor tonic/major subdominant or major tonic/minor dominant is contradictory and unstable.
Here then are the options, which are somewhat fewer than with the major:
iv i v
VI III I V
The key thing is to find appropriate pivot chords for the modulation you want to make
Very helpful.
Thanks.
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme. If you value this channel and would like to help us continue to share and develop the content please consider supporting us as a level 1 Maestro by clicking here ruclips.net/channel/UC8yI8P7Zi3yYTsypera-IQgjoin Alternatively you can express your support for the channel by clicking on the Super Thanks button beneath any of our videos. Thank you.
A real eye opener for me as I have spent my entire musical career sight reading classical music, thus I never learned anything about music morphology; never needed to.
It would really enhance your grasp of what you’re playing
I don’t quite understand the idea of remote keys. Why for example, when Beethoven modulates from E flat major to E major in his fourth Sonata, is this considered a remote key? Yes, I understand that going from three flats to four sharps is quite a difference on paper, if your are sight reading it, but in terms of what the listener hears, it’s not remote at all. It’s right next-door.
Next door in terms of the tonic note but as you rightly say many keys apart
Sir in a minor are no sharps whay do you say there is a G# in it?
theres a G# in A harmonic minor
@@CommentaryCentral Oh yes in A Harmonic Minor Thanks a lot
😀
thank you
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk
🔊
😀
I am always amazed how people, thinking in keys and scales, manage to complicate life.
Why not just talking about chords and forget the whole key or scale issue? Why is it necessary to talk about the Dminor-chord as “the second chord of the C-scale”? You could have explained the same topic just by mentioning the chords and forget about the scales all together.
Keys are a thing of the past. People thinking in scales are always wondering in what keys popsongs are written. The answer is very clear: they aren’t written in a certain key anymore. Take for instance Jimi Hendrix’ Hey Joe: it has the chords C G D A E. There doesn’t exist any scale in which all the chords fit perfectly. The chord structure changes every measure to one fifth higher. So does this song have five keys with four pivot chords in every phrase to smoothly go to a new key?
In classical music, a piece of music composed in C, stayed in the C-scale for almost the entire composition. The composer was proud to never leave the C-scale and to never use any sharps or flats. And then a second part of the song was for instance composed entirely in the G-scale, so he needed a modulation by means of a pivot chord. But as my example of Hey Joe may indicate, jazz, blues and pop-composers compose more freely now and don’t stay stubbornly in one key from start to end anymore. They use chords that go well together within one musical phrase. You could call that pivot chords, but they aren’t needed for a keychange anymore. They just make a nice chord progression together.
And yes, sometimes pop-musicians mention “a blues in E” or “Sultans of swing in Bminor”, but that doesn’t indicate the key, just the first chord.
Most music since 1600 is written in keys and most of it modulates from one key to another. It’s okay to call a chord D minor from a playing point of view but it functions within the key very differently if it’s chord I in D minor or chord II in C major because chords have a hierarchy within the key.
@@MusicMattersGB Most music since 1900 isn't written in keys anymore but is purely based on chord progressions, without paying any attention to the key. It is even hard to find a proper key in which many post 1900 pieces have been composed. Many great composers like Lennon and McCartney and many others didn't care about the keys in which they played. Carole Kaye, the basist of many great pop songs literally said: The scales are not important, you have to know the notes of the chords. Your presentation is correct concerning pre-1900 compositions, but is obsolete.
Sure some music written since 1900 is not in a key. Much is so we can’t really claim that keys are obsolete.
@@MusicMattersGB People are also riding horsebacks, which isn't obsolete either for that reason. But it isn't very useful to explain how transport in general works by just describing horses and carriages. Basing your explanation entirely on keys is a limited and somewhat outdated approach at least.
Agreed. That’s why our videos cover so much more than keys. It’s one of many significant issues.