G major · Modal interchange

Borrowed chords in G major

A borrowed chord comes from a scale that shares G major's tonic but not all of its notes. Across the seven parallel scales close enough to borrow from, there are 42 chords to borrow. The ones heard most come from G minor: Cm and E♭.

From G Lydian

G Lydian shares 6 of its 7 notes with G major. One note apart, so these chords sound like a gentle shift of colour.

Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Dmaj7Vmaj7
Outside the key:
vii
Outside the key:
vii7
Outside the key:
AII
Outside the key:
A7II7
Outside the key:

From G Mixolydian

G Mixolydian shares 6 of its 7 notes with G major. One note apart, so these chords sound like a gentle shift of colour.

Dmv
D F A
Outside the key: F
Dm7v7
D F A C
Outside the key: F
F
F A C
Outside the key: F
Fmaj7
F A C E
Outside the key: F
G7I7
G B D F
Outside the key: F
B°iii°
B D F
Outside the key: F
iiiø7
B D F A
Outside the key: F

From G Dorian

G Dorian shares 5 of its 7 notes with G major. Two notes apart: a clear change of colour without leaving home.

C7IV7
Outside the key:
E°vi°
Outside the key:
viø7
Outside the key:
Gmi
Outside the key:
Gm7i7
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:

From G Aeolian

G Aeolian shares 4 of its 7 notes with G major. Further away, so these chords sound darker or stranger against the key.

Cmiv
Outside the key:
Cm7iv7
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
F7
Outside the key:
A°ii°
Outside the key:
iiø7
Outside the key:

From G Phrygian

G Phrygian shares 3 of its 7 notes with G major. Further away, so these chords sound darker or stranger against the key.

D°v°
Outside the key:
vø7
Outside the key:
Fm
Outside the key:
Fm7
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:

From G Harmonic Major

G Harmonic Major shares 6 of its 7 notes with G major. One note apart, so these chords sound like a gentle shift of colour.

CmMaj7ivmaj7
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
Outside the key:
vii°7
Outside the key:

From G Melodic Minor

G Melodic Minor shares 6 of its 7 notes with G major. One note apart, so these chords sound like a gentle shift of colour.

GmMaj7imaj7
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.