Tag Archives: modulations

Rules for modulation

Someone sent me this question this week:

Why would a writer choose to modulate up a half step versus a whole step (or vice-versa)? Aside from the obvious answer that few would purposely modulate up to the obscure keys (F#Maj/GbMaj/BMaj), why would someone writing a song in the key of C modulate the final chorus to D flat versus D? Are there rules behind that?