B♭ major · Modal interchange
Borrowed chords in B flat major
From
B♭ Lydian shares 6 of its 7 notes with B♭ major. One note apart, so these chords sound like a gentle shift of colour.
- CII
C E G
Outside the key: E
- C7II7
Outside the key: E
- E°
Outside the key: E
Outside the key: E
- Fmaj7Vmaj7
F A C E
Outside the key: E
- Amvii
A C E
Outside the key: E
- Am7vii7
A C E G
Outside the key: E
From
B♭ Mixolydian shares 6 of its 7 notes with B♭ major. One note apart, so these chords sound like a gentle shift of colour.
- D°iii°
Outside the key:
- iiiø7
Outside the key:
- Fmv
Outside the key:
- Fm7v7
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
- I7
Outside the key:
From
B♭ Dorian shares 5 of its 7 notes with B♭ major. Two notes apart: a clear change of colour without leaving home.
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
- IV7
Outside the key:
- G°vi°
Outside the key:
- viø7
Outside the key:
- i
Outside the key:
- i7
Outside the key:
From
B♭ Aeolian shares 4 of its 7 notes with B♭ major. Further away, so these chords sound darker or stranger against the key.
- C°ii°
Outside the key:
- iiø7
Outside the key:
- iv
Outside the key:
- iv7
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
From
B♭ Phrygian shares 3 of its 7 notes with B♭ major. Further away, so these chords sound darker or stranger against the key.
Outside the key:
- F°v°
Outside the key:
- vø7
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
From
B♭ Harmonic Major shares 6 of its 7 notes with B♭ major. One note apart, so these chords sound like a gentle shift of colour.
- ivmaj7
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
- A°7vii°7
Outside the key:
From
B♭ Melodic Minor shares 6 of its 7 notes with B♭ major. One note apart, so these chords sound like a gentle shift of colour.
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
- imaj7
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.