Modulation - Music Writing - Help Creating Song Endings HD

Modulation - Music Writing - Help Creating Song Endings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJhoon5AuMs Take some piano lessons from Scott Houston “The Piano Guy.” In this video, Scott shows you how to create great endings that use some modulation. What is “modulation” you ask? A book definition might sound something like this: in music, modulation is the process of changing from one key to another with the treatment of a chord. This may or may not be accompanied by a change in key signature. Modulations can be used to create interest in a song. YIKES!! For our purposes, we are just using modulation to create an interesting ending for our songs. You might already be aware that when you play the piano using our style, reading lead sheets, you need to be ready with some Intros and Endings that you can add to any tune at any time. Today I am going to focus on an easy way to create a beautiful ending utilizing modulation. First we have to learn a couple of truisms about Western Music and then a little theory: Truism #1 Tunes tend to end on a chord that is the same name as the key of the tune … i.e. the “tonic” or “I” chord. Truism #2 The last 2 chords of most tunes go from a “V” chord to a “I” chord. (In serious music theory you would call that “dominant to tonic”) Truism #3 Quite often the last note in the melody line will be the same note that is the root of the “I” chord. Now, for the application—to add this ending to the end of a tune (we are going to use Silent Night as an example), instead of playing the last 2 chords given to you in the order listed on the lead sheet (“V” to “I”, or C to G in this case) in between those two chords, you will insert two chords. So after playing the “V” chord (the 2nd to last chord listed in the song), you will need to move the entire chord (keep the same hand position) up one half-step. Next, play the chord that is one half-step higher than the “I” chord (the last chord in the tune.) You can accomplish this by again moving the entire chord (using the same hand position) up one half-step. Lastly, end on the “I” chord. As a review, we will work through the same the steps I just taught you, this time in the key of F using “Amazing Grace.” Don’t worry much about being able to figure out whether or not the “song” is a good candidate for using this ending. If the explanation of the song being one that ends in “V’ to “I” chords confuses you, simply let your ear decide. Try playing the ending. If it sounds good to you, it probably is a tune that ends on “V’ to “I” chords and is a great ending choice. If it doesn’t sound good, trust your ear and don’t use it for that particular tune. Remember the odds are with you as 95% of Western songs do end in “V’ to “I” chords and are perfect candidates for use of this ending. If you want to step it up a notch, you can add some chord tones with your right hand to make it sound really pretty! Scott’s life goal is to help you learn to play piano through piano lessons that y