What does Modulate to the dominant mean in music?

Modulate to the dominant means "Move to the key built on the 5th degree".

What type of musical term is Modulate to the dominant?

Modulate to the dominant is a theory concepts term — see the Theory Practice glossary for the rest of the theory concepts word list.

What grade is Modulate to the dominant tested in?

Modulate to the dominant first appears at Grade 4 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams, and stays in the syllabus for every grade above that.

Music theory · Musical terms · Theory concepts

Modulate to the dominant — meaning in music

Modulate to the dominant is a musical term meaning Move to the key built on the 5th degree. It is a theory concepts marking, first tested at Grade 4 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams. From that grade on, every written paper expects you to know it on sight.

Definition

Move to the key built on the 5th degree

Theory conceptsFirst tested: Grade 4

Translations

French	Passer à la clé construite au 5ème degré
German	Gehen Sie zum Schlüssel, der auf der 5. Stufe aufgebaut ist
Italian	Andate alla chiave costruita al 5° grado
Spanish	Pasar a la clave construida en el quinto grado.
Chinese	移至建立在 5 度的键

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All theory concepts terms

Allemande Alto range Anacrusis Answer phrase Arco Bar line Bass clef Bass range Binary form Bourrée Cello clef Cello range Chromatic semitone Compound interval Courante Crotchet (US name)Demisemiquaver Diatonic semitone Dominant Dominant (degree)Double bar line Double bass clef Double flat (𝄫)Double sharp (𝄪)Doubling rule Duplet Final bar line Flat Gavotte Gigue Harmonic minor scale Imperfect cadence Interrupted cadence Inversion of a 3rd Inversion of a 4th Inversion of a 5th Leading note Leger line Mediant Melodic minor scale (ascending)Melodic minor scale (descending)Minim (US name)Minuet Modulate to the dominant Modulate to the relative minor Modulation Natural Natural minor scale Parallel 5ths Parallel 8ves Perfect cadence Pivot chord Pizzicato Plagal cadence Quaver (US name)Question phrase Real sequence Relative minor of C major Relative minor of F major Relative minor of G major Repeat sign Sarabande Semibreve (US name)Semiquaver (US name)Semitone Sequence Sharp Slur Soprano range Stave (staff)Subdominant Subdominant (degree)Submediant Supertonic Tenor range Ternary form Tie Tonal sequence Tone Tonic Tonic (degree)Treble clef Triplet Viola clef Viola range Violin clef Violin range Voice crossing Voice overlap