Borrowed Chords

Borrowed chords are transient chords, they appear in a song suddenly and
they add tension, an element of surprise and interest in a chord progression.

Usually borrowed chords are taken from the parallel (on the same root) minor
or major scale. E.g. if in C major then chords can be used from C minor.

m m m dim

m dim b m m b b

The most common borrowed chords from a minor scale are bIII, bVI and bVII.
These chords are one semitone lower than the equivalent degrees of a major scale.
Since they are major chords they can be used as dominant chords in cadences.

E.g. In the key of C major instead of G chords the use of Eb, Ab or Bb chords from
C minor scale.

Another common movement when in a major key is the use of iv minor (from the
parallel minor scale).

E.g. in the key of C major instead of F chord the use Fm from C minor scale.