Automated Key Modulation via Pivot Chord Graphs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer systems lack the capability to generate aesthetic chord progressions and key modulations in musical compositions effectively, as they struggle to autonomously decide when and how to change musical keys while maintaining harmonic coherence.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based musical composition system that determines when to change keys by segmenting musical compositions into coherent segments, applying key changes at boundaries, and using a library of pivot chord relationships and graph representations to select appropriate chords for key transitions, allowing for automated generation of aesthetic chord progressions and key modulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If computer systems use traditional music composition methods, then they can generate basic musical content, but they fail to produce aesthetically pleasing chord progressions and key modulations
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments musical compositions into distinct segments (e.g., intro, verse, chorus, bridge) and applies key changes at segment boundaries rather than arbitrarily within the composition. This segmentation approach ensures that key modulations occur at musically appropriate locations, improving aesthetic quality while maintaining automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-computes pivot chord relationships between different keys and stores them in a library before composition generation. This preliminary preparation enables the automated system to quickly select aesthetically appropriate key modulations during composition without requiring complex real-time decision-making, thus improving both aesthetic quality and automation efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If computer systems apply frequent key changes, then they can create musical variety, but they risk disrupting harmonic coherence
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pivot chords as intermediary elements to facilitate smooth transitions between different keys. Instead of making abrupt key changes that would disrupt harmonic coherence, the pivot chord acts as a mediator that connects the original key to the new key, allowing the system to create musical variety while maintaining harmonic stability throughout the transition.
3Reliability
If computer systems use complex algorithms for key modulation, then they can generate sophisticated chord progressions, but the system complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-computes and stores pivot chord relationships between all possible key pairs in a library before composition generation. This preliminary action transforms a potentially complex real-time calculation problem into a simpler lookup and selection problem, enabling sophisticated chord progressions to be generated without requiring complex algorithms during the actual composition process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system represents key relationships using graph theory, where keys are nodes and pivot chord relationships are edges with associated weights. By changing the representation parameters from complex musical theory calculations to simple graph structures, the system achieves sophisticated chord progression generation with reduced algorithmic complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Computer-based systems, devices, and methods for automatically generating aesthetic chord progressions and key modulations in musical compositions are described. Known harmonic relationships are expanded upon to produce a much richer set of harmonic transition probability models compared to conventional music theory, and these models are leveraged by a computer-based musical composition system to generate new musical compositions and variations of existing musical compositions. Techniques for enabling a computer-based musical composition system to automatically determine when to introduce a key modulation, what key to module to, and what chord progression(s) to use within the new key are all described.