modulating

[jude63]

is there a preferred amount of semitones to modulate to or is it a matter of choice?
ex. a song liek "Oh Give thanks unto the Lord".....I would like to modulate up a few times.

[bil4913]

Great question.
One thing to keep in mind is the range of the song. If it's a song where the lowest and highest notes are not that far apart (like O, Give Thanks [lowest note is the 7, highest the 6) then you can modulate frequently without pushing the range of your congregation or choir. However a song like Give Thanks w/a Grateful Heart spans a minor 10th (you do count both verse and chorus). There are only a few viable keys for a song with that kind of range.

Other than that - it's a matter of taste. Also, for small-ranged songs you can jump up a whole step or even a minor 3rd.

[under13]

Great question.
One thing to keep in mind is the range of the song. If it's a song where the lowest and highest notes are not that far apart (like O, Give Thanks [lowest note is the 7, highest the 6) then you can modulate frequently without pushing the range of your congregation or choir. However a song like Give Thanks w/a Grateful Heart spans a minor 10th (you do count both verse and chorus). There are only a few viable keys for a song with that kind of range.

Other than that - it's a matter of taste. Also, for small-ranged songs you can jump up a whole step or even a minor 3rd.

Never knew that! Thanks!

[csedwards2]

interesting.

[T-Block]

is there a preferred amount of semitones to modulate to or is it a matter of choice?
ex. a song liek "Oh Give thanks unto the Lord".....I would like to modulate up a few times.

It's a matter of choice. If it's just music, you can go up as many times as you want. If there's singing, then u already have some sound advice from bil4913. If they can sing it, go for it.

[jude63]

Great answers.....thanks