What keys can I modulate to when harmonizing a Bach chorale?

There are 5 keys which a Bach chorale could modulate to*. Two of these are the dominant and the subdominant (based on the 5th and 4th degree of the home key respectively). If the home key is major then the chorale could modulate to the relative minor as well as to the relative minor of the dominant or the subdominant. If the home key is minor then the opposite applies (i.e. it can modulate to the relative major of the home key, dominant, or subdominant).For example, if the home key of a chorale is D major, it could modulate to: B minor (the relative minor), A major (the dominant), F sharp minor (the relative minor of the dominant), G major (the subdominant) and E minor (the relative minor of the subdominant). A chorale in B minor could modulate to all of these keys as well as to D major.*Bach does sometimes use keys other than these but you would not encounter this in your A level chorale as it is rare and unusual.

AK
Answered by Aaron K. Music tutor

4626 Views

See similar Music A Level tutors

Related Music A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explain how Elfman uses timbre and harmony to create a dark atmosphere in his piece ‘Batman Returns: Birth of a penguin’ part I & II’


Discuss how changing perceptions of early music (mediaeval to Baroque) has informed the evolution of present-day performance and reception


Compare and constrast the use of melody and instrumentation in Schoenberg's Der Kranke Mond from Pierrot Lunaire


What's the difference between a dominant 7th, a diminished 7th and a major 7th chord?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning