Scribd
Upload
480 views

Borrowed Chords

Borrowed chords are chords used in a key that are not native to that key. The most common borrowed chords come from the parallel major or minor key. In C major, some examples of common borrowed chords include: - The Neopolitan chord (bII), which would be Db major. - III# (E major), bIII (Eb major), and biii (Eb minor), which modify the iii chord. - Borrowing between the IV and iv chords via a plagal cadence. - Using a major V chord at cadences in minor keys. - Modifying the vi chord to be major (VI#) or flat (

Uploaded by

JonahJunior
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
480 views

Borrowed Chords

Borrowed chords are chords used in a key that are not native to that key. The most common borrowed chords come from the parallel major or minor key. In C major, some examples of common borrowed chords include: - The Neopolitan chord (bII), which would be Db major. - III# (E major), bIII (Eb major), and biii (Eb minor), which modify the iii chord. - Borrowing between the IV and iv chords via a plagal cadence. - Using a major V chord at cadences in minor keys. - Modifying the vi chord to be major (VI#) or flat (

Uploaded by

JonahJunior
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Songwriting III

BORROWED CHORDS
Chords are said to be borrowed when they are used in one key, but arent native to that
key. This is different from modulation which is about changing keys.
The most common borrowed chords come from the parallel major of minor key of the
key youre in.
First a little about the roman numeral analysis/naming system. A sharp, natural or flat
placed BEFORE the roman numeral means that the root note of that chord is raised or
lowered. A sharp, natural or flat placed AFTER the roman numeral means that the third
of the chord is raised or lowered. So
In C Major, iii is em, E, G, B
biii is ebm, Eb, Gb, Bb
III# is E Major, E, G#, B
In C Major, here are some common borrowed chords:
I Not often messed with as its the tonic.
ii bII is called the Neopolitan chord. In C Major, it would be spelled Db, F, Ab. This
chord is most often used in minor keys as a subdominant substitution like i, iv, bII, V#,
i.
iii Common here are: III# - E Major, E, G, B simply making it major
bIII Eb Major, Eb, G, Bb
biii - eb minor, Eb, Gb, Bb
IV its quite common to go from the IV to the iv and then plagal cadence to i.
V In minor, we often make this chord Major (V#) at cadences.
vi Common here are: VI# - A Major, A, C#, E, simply making it major
bVI Ab Major, Ab, C, Eb
bvi ab minor Ab, Cb, Eb
vii Very common here in Major is bVII, so in C Major it would be Bb Major, Bb, D, F.
This takes away most of the cadence power of the chord as it no longer has the leading
tone of the key in it.

You might also like