changing keys

[banjoal]

could some one give me some advice on changing keys during a song. I would appreciate some feedback on what methods people use to make smooth transitions from one to another .specifically I`m trying to go from F to G .midway though a song without just pausing and restarting. Any insight would be great Thanks Al

[badgas]

Hi Banjoal.

I'll try to explain what I do and what some others I know do without seeming full of hot air or being long winded.


From F to G.

I'm going to use the four chord progression of
F, Dm, Bb, C
and
G, Em, C, D.
Since I don't know all your chords, but this'll give you some idea.

Verse 1 to change from F to G at Verse 2.

F, Dm, Bb, C
F, Dm, Bb, C
F, Dm, Bb, C
F, Dm, Bb, D

G, Em, C, D
G, Em, C, D.

I do it at the end of a verse or chous without pausing, just replace the 'C' with a 'D'. This way the lead in for the next verse has started with the end of the previous verse.

There are other ways of doing it too, but this is probably the most common that I know of and the easiest.

Hope it helps some.

[dragonworks]

Lets see this is just a guess. The triads in F major are= F- Gm- Am- Bb-C-Dm-Eaug-F. The triads in G major are G-Am-Bm-C-D-Em-F#aug-G. The two triads they have in common are C and Am. You might try and change key from one of those chords.
Changing key by a half step one way or the other is fairly easy.
Try changing to a chord in the key that you want to change to that is not the root chord or tonic of that key.
Such as above playing in F, upon reaching the Am or the C you are now on a chord, i.e. Am being the second in the key of G major or C being the fourth of G major, which can lead you to the key of G smoothly.

[banjoal]

Thanks for the help guys I think I`ll need to work with these ideas to a bit to get a handle on it but I tried a C to D to G thing that looks promising, thanks again for taking the time Al