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Date: 01-Feb-08 @ 02:14 PM Edit: 01-Feb-08 | 02:16 PM -
Anyone up for enharmonic spelling and modulations?
Just trying to start some theory conversation here!
An enharmonic modulation is basically a chord that is reinterpreted to fit into a second key. It is a *really* nice and chromatic way to get to distant keys from your tonic key. Enharmonic meaning a chord or tone that is the same chord or tone, but spelled different to fit into another key. For example:
- each tone in a fully diminished 7th chord can be considered a leading tone to the next tone up a 1/2 step.
Bº7 (b, d, f, a flat) b can be the leading tone to C--- "d" can be the LT to D flat, etc. this works for all fully diminished 7th chords. Each tone is a minor third in interval and there are two tritones in a 7º.
German augmented 6th chords "sound" like a dominant 7th, but in another key. The sol solfege is (Le, Do, Me, Fi) Le (flat 6th and FI #4, the inversion a diminished 3rd) create the augmented 6th interval, as well as in all the augmented 6th chords (French, German, and Italian).Since it sounds like a dominant seventh it can be enharmonically reinterpreted as the dominant or +6 in another key. For example: if you have a secondary function such as V7/IV--> you can go to IV (as expected) or the V7 becomes a Ger +6 of the key a MAJOR THIRD above the tonic of the original key.
So, if we are in the key of C Major, the V7/IV is the tonic chord, but with an added minor 7th to create a dominant chord---> C,E,G, B flat. Now, the chord ALSO looks and sounds as the Ger +6 of E Major b/c it can be looked at like c natural, e, g natural, and a sharp. As in all Aug 6th chords, the two tones that create the +6th need to BOTH spread out to the dominant tones, but use a cadential i 6/4 to avoid parallel fifths (if you are going for that type of sound).
I hope this helps out!
capthook