changing key in a song?

[therex]

i am having a hard time changing the key in one of my band`s songs
the idea is to have a stop in the music and then play jingle bells in a pop-punk style, we already have the jingle bells part done and the song intself done but they dont fit together properly
the chorus of the song goes along this chords D, Bm, G and A, so the song is in the key of D and the jingle bells part is in the key of G so any creative ideas for a change in the key? i could try just making jingle bells in D but i want something more interesting

PS sorry for english

[ryco]

Originally Posted by therex

the chorus of the song goes along this chords D, Bm, G and A, so the song is in the key of D and the jingle bells part is in the key of G so any creative ideas for a change in the key? i could try just making jingle bells in D but i want something more interesting

Easiest thing would be to play through the chorus and when you come back to the first D chord (highlighted), change it to a D7. That should lead into the first G chord for Jingle Bells.

Or you could play through the chorus and after the last chord A, do a half step down to Ab7, then into the first G chord of Jingle Bells. The b7 of Ab could be optional if it sounds to "jazzy" for punk.

[phxlbrmpf]

Personally, I'd play the "Jingle Bells" part in E, I imagine this will add some tension without sounding too "out there". Shifting a song's key two semitones up at some point is done a lot in pop music and can sound pretty great. You could add a nifty transition by shifting the last chord of your chord progression up to B.

[CamMcIntyre]

When you guys are at the last time you play the A chord before going into Jingle Bells, do a quick ii V. So turn the A into A- & throw a D7 after it.

So you'd be playing: D | Bm | G| A- D7| G

If that's too jazzy [it's a straight ii V]. The idea of leading it A Ab into the G works. The bands I played used to do that with quarter note triplets to do shifts like that.

all the best.