key change
Musical pitch adjustment
A key change is a shift from one musical key to another within a piece, altering the tonal center.
Key changes add emotional lift or variety—pop songs often modulate up a half-step or whole step near the end for dramatic effect: The final chorus hits harder after the key change.
Also called modulation.
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
- transposeReverse order of elements
- half stepSmallest Western musical interval
- pitchFrequency of sound
- shiftMovement or work period
melody · bridge · chorus · dramatic · uplift · semitone · musical · climax · locksmith · ignition · rekey · lock · door lock · door · signature · flat · sharp · pivot
- songwritinglyrics, verse, verse-chorus, refrain, song structure
- changesshift, alter, transformation, modify, transform
- harmonyharmony, chord, chords, triad, triads
- song elementsverse, lyrics, refrain, chorus, hook
- audio effectsreverb, delay, flanger, chorus effect, phaser
- karaoke equipmentmicrophone stand, mic stand, mic, wired mic, wireless mic