A♭ major · Modal interchange
Borrowed chords in A flat major
From
A♭ Lydian shares 6 of its 7 notes with A♭ major. One note apart, so these chords sound like a gentle shift of colour.
- D°
Outside the key: D
Outside the key: D
- Vmaj7
Outside the key: D
- Gmvii
Outside the key: D
- Gm7vii7
Outside the key: D
- II
Outside the key: D
- II7
Outside the key: D
From
A♭ Mixolydian shares 6 of its 7 notes with A♭ major. One note apart, so these chords sound like a gentle shift of colour.
- C°iii°
Outside the key:
- iiiø7
Outside the key:
- v
Outside the key:
- v7
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
- I7
Outside the key:
From
A♭ Dorian shares 5 of its 7 notes with A♭ major. Two notes apart: a clear change of colour without leaving home.
- IV7
Outside the key:
- F°vi°
Outside the key:
- viø7
Outside the key:
- i
Outside the key:
- i7
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
From
A♭ Aeolian shares 4 of its 7 notes with A♭ major. Further away, so these chords sound darker or stranger against the key.
- iv
Outside the key:
- iv7
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
- ii°
Outside the key:
- iiø7
Outside the key:
From
A♭ Phrygian shares 3 of its 7 notes with A♭ major. Further away, so these chords sound darker or stranger against the key.
- v°
Outside the key:
- vø7
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
sounds as A
Outside the key:
sounds as Amaj7
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
From
A♭ Harmonic Major shares 6 of its 7 notes with A♭ major. One note apart, so these chords sound like a gentle shift of colour.
- ivmaj7
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
- G°7vii°7
Outside the key:
From
A♭ Melodic Minor shares 6 of its 7 notes with A♭ major. One note apart, so these chords sound like a gentle shift of colour.
- imaj7
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
How borrowed chords sound
A borrowed chord keeps the tonic and changes the colour. The note it brings in is a note of the parallel scale, so the ear hears the same home with a different light on it. The minor iv and the flat VI are the classic examples: the moment a major key turns wistful without going anywhere.
In the app, section 2 teaches modal mixture: naming borrowed chords, hearing the borrowed colour, and where mixture sits on the tonic, subdominant and dominant axis.