10257 / 18210 · Workshop 84 — Modulation Architecture: Pivot Chords, Direct Modulation, Common-Tone Modulation, Sequential Modulation, and Making Key Changes Feel Inevitable← prev⊞ allnext →
84.116Modulation and ear playing
When you hear unfamiliar harmony:
listen for clues that the key changed:
- persistent accidental
- new dominant
- recurring new tonic
- phrase cadences on a different note
- bass settling elsewhere
Do not assume every chromatic chord is a modulation.
Look for confirmation.