Borrowed Chords

Borrowed Chords: Expanding Your Musical Horizons

What Are Borrowed Chords?

Borrowed chords, also known as modal mixture or modal interchange, are chords "borrowed" from a parallel key with the same root. These chords introduce unexpected harmonies, adding depth and complexity to your music.

How to Borrow Chords

To borrow chords, identify the parallel major or minor key to your current key. For example, if you're in the key of C major, you can borrow chords from its parallel minor key, C minor. The chords borrowed from this key will be those that are not diatonic to the original key.

For instance, in the key of C major, you could borrow the chords Am, Dm, Em, and G. These chords add a darker, more introspective quality to the progression.

Benefits of Using Borrowed Chords

Borrowed chords offer numerous benefits in songwriting and arrangement:

• Increased Harmonic Interest: By introducing chords from outside the original key, you break up the monotony and create more engaging progressions.
• Emotional Depth: Different borrowed chords evoke unique emotions. For example, borrowing chords from the minor parallel can add a sense of sadness or tension.
• Unexpected Transitions: Borrowed chords can create unexpected and surprising transitions between sections of a song, adding drama and impact.
• New Songwriting Ideas: Experimenting with borrowed chords can spark new ideas and inspire innovative chord progressions.

Ultimately, the use of borrowed chords is a powerful tool that can expand your musical vocabulary and enhance your songs. By embracing the concept of modal mixture, you can create truly memorable and captivating music.