* Classical era: Music is based on the major-minor tonal system, with clear distinctions between major and minor keys.
* Modern era: Music can be tonal, atonal, or use other tonal systems, such as modal or pentatonic scales.
2. Harmony
* Classical era: Harmony is based on triads and seventh chords, with a clear sense of functional harmony.
* Modern era: Harmony can be much more complex, with the use of extended chords, dissonant intervals, and polytonality.
3. Melody
* Classical era: Melodies are typically lyrical and singable, with a clear sense of phrase structure.
* Modern era: Melodies can be more angular and disjunct, with a greater use of chromaticism.
4. Rhythm
* Classical era: Rhythms are typically regular and predictable, with a clear sense of meter.
* Modern era: Rhythms can be much more complex, with the use of polyrhythms, syncopation, and irregular meters.
5. Instrumentation
* Classical era: The standard orchestra of the classical era consists of strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.
* Modern era: The modern orchestra has a much wider range of instruments, including electronic instruments and non-Western instruments.
6. Form
* Classical era: Music is typically organized into clear-cut sections, such as sonata-allegro form, rondo form, and theme and variations.
* Modern era: Music can be much more free-form, with a greater use of sectional forms and open-ended structures.
7. Aesthetics
* Classical era: Music is often seen as being beautiful, elegant, and well-crafted.
* Modern era: Music can be more experimental, challenging, and even ugly.
8. Audience
* Classical era: Music was typically written for a small audience of wealthy patrons.
* Modern era: Music is accessible to a much wider audience, thanks to the rise of mass media and the internet.
These are just some of the key differences between the classical era and the modern era of music. Of course, there is a great deal of variation within each era, and there are many exceptions to the general trends listed above.