Published:
2023-08-05
Updated:
2023-08-05
Learning Ukulele with Curt
Modal Interchange
"Modal Interchange" is temporarily borrowing chords from a parallel tonality or mode that shares the same root. These borrowed chords originate from the major or minor parallel modes, including their respective harmonic and melodic minor, as well as symmetrical scales sharing the same root. You can borrow from any parallel scale or mode.
Author(s): Curt Sheller Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications Code: ML-HA-MI
Main Category: Theory Main Instrument: Any
Subjects: Chords
2023-08-05
"Modal Interchange" is temporarily borrowing chords from a parallel tonality or mode that shares the same root. These borrowed chords originate from the major or minor parallel modes, including their respective harmonic and melodic minor, as well as symmetrical scales sharing the same root. You can borrow from any parallel scale or mode.
It typically is support of a melody.
These chords are brief enough to no imply a modulation to a different key. These modal interchanges are different from Secondary Dominant chords.
The original key should be clearly established before using these chords, and not enough to create a modulation to the borrowed tonality/key.
A few famous examples are: A Day In The Life (The Beatles) ( D Dm ), Wake Me Up When September Ends (Green Day ( C Cm ), Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye (by Cole Porter) ( IV IVm ). Light My Fire (The Doors) Am F♯m , Gimme Shelter (The Rolling Stones).
Modal Interchange is a modern, non-classic, Common Practice period, harmonic concept. The Blues is a great examples of a genre that straddles it's major and minor tonalities.
With Blues, Rock, Folk, Country songs, a Harmonic Analysis (HA) typically comes after the fact. Knowing this information in advance allows you get a particular sound based on what you line in other's songs.
Links & Resources
So — What is the bottom-line for knowing all of the Theory
? This allow one to copy a style, re-harmonize and existing songs or progression for particular harmonic effect, select a scale for improvisation. It also, simply helps you to understand what goes into making and writing music.