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Modal interchange


A borrowed chord (also called mode mixture andmodal interchange) is a chord borrowed from the parallel key (minor or major scale with the same tonic). Borrowed chords are typically used as "color chords", providing variety through contrasting scale forms, major and the three forms of minor. Similarly, chords may be borrowed from the parallel modes, the various modes beginning on the same tonic as a scale, for example Dorian with D major.

Six chords borrowed from the parallel minor key are commonly found in the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras (shown here in C major):

Borrowed chords 1b.gif

The following three chords are also found in Romantic era, albeit rarely:

Borrowed chords 2.gif

The major-minor subdominant seventh, which contains an A, is borrowed from the parallel ascending melodic minor scale.

If the root of the borrowed chord is not in the original key, then the chord is named by the accidental. For instance, in a major key, a chord built on the parallel minor's sixth degree is a "flat six chord" written VI.

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 a lot by bands including Genesis, Yes and Nirvana.VII is from Mixolydian and VI is found in both Aeolian and Phrygian. The VII-I cadence with VII substituting for V is common, as well as II–I, III–I, and VI–I. In popular music, the major triad on the lowered third scale degree (III), the major triad on the lowered sixth scale degree (VI) and the major triad on the lowered seventh scale degree, or "flat seven" (VII) are common. In C major, these chords are E, A, and B respectively.


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