Level 1 · Lesson 9

Advanced Modulations and Harmonic Pedals

Harmonic sequence, common note, minorisation, pedal points and appoggiatura chords.

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Pause Culture · Advanced Modulations & Pedals

Franz Schubert (1797–1828)

In The Erlking, Schubert uses a pedal note at the piano — a low note obstinately repeated — to simulate the horse's obsessive gallop. Meanwhile the harmony goes wild, modulating in…

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À retenir : The pedal creates powerful psychological tension by staying fixed while everything moves around it.

Harmonic sequence

A sequence is a musical pattern (harmonic or melodic) repeated at different scale degrees — as if the pattern were progressively shifted. There are two main families with very different effects.

Pachelbel's Canon: the most famous example of a diatonic sequence. The I–V pattern is transposed onto VI–III then IV–I, remaining in D major throughout.

Click to compare the two types.

Marche diatonique

Séquence tonale

Le motif se répète à l'intérieur de la même gamme, en suivant fidèlement les intervalles diatoniques. Les intervalles changent légèrement à chaque transposition pour rester dans la gamme.

Marche harmonique

Séquence modulante

Le motif est transposé à l'identique — mêmes intervalles exacts. Cela force à sortir de la gamme de départ et crée des modulations successives.

Comparison

	Diatonic sequence	Harmonic sequence
Intervals	Adjusted to the scale	Exactly identical
Tonality	Stays within the scale	Leaves the scale — modulates
Effect	Internal motion	Tonal drift / journey
Example	Pachelbel's Canon	Gm–Fm–Ebm–Dbm