When a composer wishes to guide listeners through two distinct tonal worlds without jarring the ears, they often employ a pivot chord modulation. At its heart lies a single harmonic device—a chord ...

Stuck in a rut of reaching for the same chord progressions? With a little lateral thinking and some pivot chords, you can bust out of the norm When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn ...

You might think of music theory as a dry and academic subject, but its 'rules' tend to be followed in even the most cutting-edge genres. If you don't believe us, check out the following nine tips, ...

Classical music has its own version of the tritone sub, which, of course, predated the jazz version. It results from the outer voices (usually soprano and bass) moving in contrary motion into the ...

The "Neapolitan 6th" chord (N6) is another sonority whose definition is based on the triad that it makes, which is a vertical perspective that glosses over its actual horizontal function. It is ...

Enharmonic modulation – the art of shifting tonal centres by reshaping a pitch’s written identity without altering its auditory reality – occupies a unique niche in Western music theory and practice.