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Chords & Harmony

Borrowed chord

A borrowed chord (also called chord borrowing, mode mixture, modal mixture, modal interchange, ) is a chord borrowed from the parallel key (minor or major scale with the same tonic). Borrowed chords

Common borrowed chords#

Sheila Romeo explains that " i n theory, any chord from any mode of the scale of the piece is a potential modal interchange or borrowed chord. Some are used more frequently than others, while some almost never occur." The next most common involve the and . These chords are shown below. Chord progressions may be constructed with borrowed chords, including two progressions common in rock music, I–VII–VI–VII, common everywhere, and I–VI–IV (), used by bands like Genesis, Yes, and Nirvana. In popular music, the major triads on the lowered third (III), sixth (VI) and seventh (VII) scale degrees are common. Borrowed chords have typical inversions or common positions, for example ii 6 and ii, and progress in the same manner as the diatonic chords they replace except for VI, which progresses to V (7) .

  • “Mode Mixture”, Robert J. Frank (2000), Theory on the Web.
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  • “Glossary: Terms Used in Writing Skills”, Berklee.
  • Mike Campese. Guest Column: “Modal Interchange”, Guitar Nine Records.
  • “Altered Chords in Jazz: Modal Interchange 0 –Altered Chords”, Taming the Saxophone.
  • “How Modal Interchange Can Transform Your Music”, Sebastian Karika, Mindful Harmony.
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