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.