Five ways to modulate to the Supertonic

(I prefer to use Five ways to modulate to the 2nd degree minor key but Supertonic has a catchier title and moreover, I think being aware of the terminology from more than one genre of music is extremely important so you could also say the relative minor of the sub-dominant. Anyway, I digress.)

Part III in this series looks at changing from the key of C Major to D minor, or I to II min. Make sure you have a capo, some string lubricant and an extremely large pan for this one and remember, this is key changing and not chord changing.

1) Firstly, the simplest is pretty much a sandwich. Take a slice of C Major and raise the root of C Ionian to place the filling of C# Altered (D Melodic mode VII) squarely on top, trim off the crusts and resolve to the key of D minor. Shown below as:

C Ionian (+1) = C# Altered (D Melodic) = D minor

NB: D Harmonic minor can also be served as a garnish, just add Bb.

2) This second recipe is perfect for those camping trips in the mountains. Just remember to pack the spork and bottle opener. First modulate back a fifth to F Major, over a static root though, you don’t want it charred, then simply raise the root of C Mixolydian and voila, pigeon pie.

C Ionian – C Mixolydian (F Major) (+1) = C# Albb7 (D Harmonic minor)

3) This is a nice variation on the previous recipe, if you can only find witchetty grubs. Take G Mixolydian as your base and raise the root up to gas mark 5, this should go Harmonic minory in a few seconds tasting all G# Altbb7y and then simply modulate back a fifth to D Harmonic minor, and if you keep the root on G you get that lovely crisp G Dorian #4 taste. Make sure to wash thoroughly in the nearest river though.

4) This takes a bit more equipment and enough electricity to charge a Tesla so I would recommend cooking it at someone else’s house. Now, a chilled C Major has the root of mode II, D Dorian, raised to get the E Neapolitan minor crispness but then the best part, modulate back a fifth while simultaneously changing to Harmonic minor but stay on the bass of D, subtle flavours with a hint of rose. Finally, serve back a fifth with the D bass note now resolving with D Harmonic minor mode I itself.

D Dorian (+1) = D# Alt bb37 – D Dorian #4 – D Harmonic minor*

*D Hungarian minor can be introduced before the Harmonic minor scale, but make sure to blanche it first.

5) Lastly, a note on the new symbols below as I am now introducing the more abstract way of explaining the changes: →= move along modes in the scale and = equivalent scale or a scale that is suitable to be substituted for the original scale.

G Mixolydian (+1) = G# Altbb7 → C Ionian + C# Phrygian b4 → B Dorian b5 (-1) = Bb Lydian #26 (D Hungarian minor mode VI) Bb Lydian #2 = D Harmonic minor

This is an old Welsh recipe, originally called Llwch yn Chwnyllwchpwyll, and is comprised completely of turnips. Start with mode V of C Major, raise the temperature of the root of G Mixolydian to G# Alt bb7 (A Harmonic minor mode VII) and then move along to mode III and swap C Ionian + for the relative mode from A Harmonic Major, C# Phrygian b4. Simmer until gooey. Now move along A Harmonic Major to B Dorian b5 and flatten the root to get Bb Lydian #26 (mode VI of D Hungarian minor) and finally switch to the equivalent mode from D Harmonic minor, Bb Lydian #2. Serve from a great distance away.

You must be stuffed by now. Maybe a wafer thin mint?

Thanks for reading and remember the restaurant is always closed except for bank holidays.