Usually I'm not so keen on key changes. Sometimes I feel it's like a musical equivalent of colour clashing... But I must say some are extremely creative.
The beginning of Leila comes to mind, just after the intro, when the verse begin: really gives a fantastic rush.
And, of course, the key change of the Penny Lane's chorus (at 6:22 in this video, there's a simulation of the chorus without the key change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc7MImrsCbo&t=12s)
What key changes do you like of find interesting?
I've always been fascinated by the fact that every verse of Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line" is in a different key, with the transitions being accomplished via those fabulous "Mmmm..." 's. It shouldn't work at all, but it does - I'll bet a lot of people don't even realize this, even if they've heard the song a million times. I know it took me a long time.
I've always been fascinated by the fact that every verse of Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line" is in a different key, with the transitions being accomplished via those fabulous "Mmmm..." 's.
Good question, Layla and Penny Lane are good examples. I can identify the key change on both and yeah they are really nice..
It’s hard to think because it’s a subtle thing. Good Vibrations maybe (on “I dont know where but she sends me there”) though is it actually a key change? Idk
Maybe the key shifts in God Only Knows each verse- a bit like in Walk the Line. I’m not sure though and would need to listen more carefully.
Maybe There, There by Radiohead. Again, I’m not certain if it’s a key change as it’s quite subtle, but there is a chord that seems to land from another planet about half way through and sounds great.
This video has an incredible analysis of variations on a them and how key changes can evoke a change in tone within a song, focusing on Franz Schubert's Erlkönig which can be found in full here: Link
It's a classical analysis, and I'd love to see something similar with a pop/rock/jazz song. I can think of lots of examples of bad key changes in pop songs ("I Wanna Be Sedated"...) but few examples of good ones. Though to be fair when a key change is done well it's often less noticeable (to me at least). _________________ 51 Washington, D.C. albums!
Good question, Layla and Penny Lane are good examples. I can identify the key change on both and yeah they are really nice..
It’s hard to think because it’s a subtle thing. Good Vibrations maybe (on “I dont know where but she sends me there”) though is it actually a key change? Idk
Maybe the key shifts in God Only Knows each verse- a bit like in Walk the Line. I’m not sure though and would need to listen more carefully.
Maybe There, There by Radiohead. Again, I’m not certain if it’s a key change as it’s quite subtle, but there is a chord that seems to land from another planet about half way through and sounds great.
Yes key changes are more or less obvious. We have in mind the big ascending key changes at the end of songs (Earth Song, Man in the Mirror, My Heart will Go On, I Wanna Dance with somebody, etc). More subtle key modulations (often between major an minor mode) can occur between verse and chorus or bridge (Africa, Life on Mars, Come on Eileen, McCartney's Take it Away, While my Guitar Gently Weeps, Happiness is a Warm Gun, etc)
Good question, Layla and Penny Lane are good examples. I can identify the key change on both and yeah they are really nice..
It’s hard to think because it’s a subtle thing. Good Vibrations maybe (on “I dont know where but she sends me there”) though is it actually a key change? Idk
Maybe the key shifts in God Only Knows each verse- a bit like in Walk the Line. I’m not sure though and would need to listen more carefully.
Maybe There, There by Radiohead. Again, I’m not certain if it’s a key change as it’s quite subtle, but there is a chord that seems to land from another planet about half way through and sounds great.
Yes key changes are more or less obvious. We have in mind the big ascending key changes at the end of songs (Earth Song, Man in the Mirror, My Heart will Go On, I Wanna Dance with somebody, etc). More subtle key modulations (often between major an minor mode) can occur between verse and chorus or bridge (Africa, Life on Mars, Come on Eileen, McCartney's Take it Away, While my Guitar Gently Weeps, Happiness is a Warm Gun, etc)
Nice explanation, a quick glance at the chords to Good Vibrations suggests related key changes/ modulations going on i.e. verse (E minor) ; chorus (G major); bridge (E major). So it goes from the minor key to its relative major then changes the original key from minor to major. (The actual chords/keys I looked at were a step down from this but I rounded them up for simplicity, nobody wants to hear about Eb minor!)
Anyway, not the obvious transposition of an entire melody through a key change but I would have previously guessed they are basically key changes, but maybe they are better described as modulations?
Full disclaimer: my analysis could be way off as I have done zero music theory in the past 24 years!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
