What does Modulation mean in music?

Modulation means "Moving from one key to another within a piece".

What type of musical term is Modulation?

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

What grade is Modulation tested in?

Modulation 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

Modulation — meaning in music

Modulation is a musical term meaning Moving from one key to another within a piece. 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

Moving from one key to another within a piece

Theory conceptsFirst tested: Grade 4

Translations

French	Passer d'une tonalité à une autre au sein d'une pièce
German	Innerhalb eines Stücks von einer Tonart zur anderen wechseln
Italian	Passare da una chiave all'altra all'interno di un brano
Spanish	Pasar de una clave a otra dentro de una pieza
Chinese	在一首作品中从一个键移动到另一个键

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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