Definition of modulation Modulation

/mɑˌʤʌlejˈʃʌn/ - [majuleyshun] - mod•u•la•tion

We found 13 definitions of modulation from 6 different sources.

What does modulation mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: modulations
modulation - (electronics) the transmission of a signal by using it to vary a carrier wave; changing the carrier's amplitude or frequency or phase
		transmission the act of sending a message; causing a message to be transmitted
		electronics the branch of physics that deals with the emission and effects of electrons and with the use of electronic devices
		amplitude modulation, am modulation of the amplitude of the (radio) carrier wave
		frequency modulation, fm modulation of the frequency of the (radio) carrier wave
		phase modulation, pm modulation of the phase of the carrier wave
modulation - a manner of speaking in which the loudness or pitch or tone of the voice is modified
		inflection
		manner of speaking, delivery, speech your characteristic style or manner of expressing yourself orally; "his manner of speaking was quite abrupt"; "her speech was barren of southernisms"; "I detected a slight accent in his speech"
modulation - the act of modifying or adjusting according to due measure and proportion (as with regard to artistic effect)
		alteration, revision the act of making something different (as e.g. the size of a garment)
modulation - rise and fall of the voice pitch
		intonation, pitch contour
		prosody, inflection the study of poetic meter and the art of versification
		intonation pattern intonations characteristic of questions and requests and statements
		droning, monotone, drone an unchanging intonation
modulation - a musical passage moving from one key to another
		transition
		musical passage, passage the act of passing from one state or place to the next

= synonym
= antonym
= related word

Wiktionary

modulation (Noun)
The process of applying a signal to a carrier, modulating.
modulation (Noun)
Methods of modulating.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

modulation (n.)
The act of modulating, or the state of being modulated; as, the modulation of the voice.
modulation (n.)
Sound modulated; melody.
modulation (n.)
A change of key, whether transient, or until the music becomes established in the new key; a shifting of the tonality of a piece, so that the harmonies all center upon a new keynote or tonic; the art of transition out of the original key into one nearly related, and so on, it may be, by successive changes, into a key quite remote. There are also sudden and unprepared modulations.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

modulation
The variation and regulation of a population, physiological response, etc.

Wikipedia

music
Modulation, in music, means that the music changes key. A piece of music might, for example, be “in the key of C major” (meaning that it uses the notes of a C major scale, and the C sounds like the “home key” or “tonic” as it is called in music theory). Then it could modulate to G major so that the G now feels like the home key and the notes of a G major scale are used (the Fs will be F sharps).

Modulations like the one above are very common, because G is closely related to C (it is the 5th note in a C major scale: the “dominant”). A modulation to the subdominant (4th note of the scale) is also common (e.g. from C major to Fmajor). Music often modulates to the relative minor (e.g. C major to A minor).

A modulation that goes to a key whose tonic is not part of the original key is called a “chromatic modulation”. Modulating from C major to A flat major would be a chromatic modulation because A flat is not a note in the C major scale.

Most pieces of music will modulate, especially if they are long pieces. It gives the music variety and helps to give it shape: the further away from the tonic it goes the more tension there is. When the music eventually returns to the original key it feels like a home-coming.