Modulating between songs of different keys

[Gary1953]

This weekend, I will be performing five songs with the band. The songs are all in different keys, necessitated by the fact that there will be different singers for each song. I need help with what cords to play at the end of each song to musically modulate to the beginning of the next song.

Can you suggest a chord progression or formula that I can use to get there?

The keys are E, A, G, C then D.

Thanks!

[DupleMeter]

I'm not sure why you can't just stop one song & start the next. Am I missing something?

[Gary1953]

Originally Posted by DupleMeter

I'm not sure why you can't just stop one song & start the next. Am I missing something?

It is to make a seamless transition from song to song, with no breaks in between.

[JerrysGuitarBar]

The most straightforward way is just to hit the dominant 7 chord of the new key.

E to A will sound pretty seamless because E is the dominant of A.

From A to G use D. Come out of the end chord of A (I presume) go to D or D7 and that will set up the new home chord of G.

G to C is another tailor made one. G is the dominant of C so going straight from one to the other will sound smooth.

C to D is the only one you have where the dominant you need, which is A7, isn't in the previous key. There are a number of ways to introduce it. You could just throw the A7 in straight after the final C. It'll get people's attention. You could go C Am A7 D. Kind of cool.You could go through G which is in both keys. It's the IV of D. So for example C G A7 D.

Just a couple of ideas

[Gary1953]

Thanks Jerry! I'll give that a shot.

[Tahitijack]

If this becomes difficult you could also just as the drummer to continue the beat between songs and gradually slowdown to speed up as required for the next song.

[DupleMeter]

Originally Posted by Gary1953

It is to make a seamless transition from song to song, with no breaks in between.

Okay - so the simplest method would be Pivot Chord modulation (using a chord that bridges the gap between the 2 keys & works in both).

E > A: Use an E7 to move to the key of A. The E7 is the V in the key of A.

A > G: Use a D7 (V in G, IV in A)

G > C: Use G7 (V of C)

C > D: this is the toughest but I'd try something like: Em7 > A7 > D

Now how the each song ends will dictate how you have to place these - but that would be a very smooth transition in each case.

[FwL]

C>D can be done with a simple chromatic walk-up C C# D

.

[stanron]

Originally Posted by FwL

C>D can be done with a simple chromatic walk-up C C# D

.

The note C# is also in A7, so chords C to A7 to D work just fine.

[Gary1953]

Thank you all. This is most helpful.

[FwL]

Originally Posted by stanron

The note C# is also in A7, so chords C to A7 to D work just fine.

I meant major chords walking up chromatically.

[stanron]

Originally Posted by FwL

I meant major chords walking up chromatically.

Yes I did get that. I suggested an alternative.

[Owen David]

Originally Posted by Gary1953

This weekend, I will be performing five songs with the band. The songs are all in different keys, necessitated by the fact that there will be different singers for each song. I need help with what cords to play at the end of each song to musically modulate to the beginning of the next song.

Can you suggest a chord progression or formula that I can use to get there?

The keys are E, A, G, C then D.

Thanks!

My ideas:

E to C#mi to Cmaj7 to Bmi7 to E7 - A

A to C to D to G

I think you can go straight from G to C or ger there via F

C to Emi to A to D

[ajrosales]

I think the most interesting way to do it would be to have a different transition for each one.. ascending chromatic, descending chromatic, pivot chord, maybe even a third or a fourth chord pivot as well just for spice...