What does modal interchange mean in music?

A borrowed chord (also called mode mixture, modal mixture, substituted chord, modal interchange, or mutation) is a chord borrowed from the parallel key (minor or major scale with the same tonic). The mixing of the major and minor modes developed in the Baroque period.

How does modal interchange work?

To put it simple, modal interchange is the practice of temporarily borrowing chords from a parallel tonality/modality without abandoning the established key. This technique has been around for centuries and is well established in most genres, including rock, pop, jazz and classical music.

Why are modes used in music?

mode, in music, any of several ways of ordering the notes of a scale according to the intervals they form with the tonic, thus providing a theoretical framework for the melody. A mode is the vocabulary of a melody; it specifies which notes can be used and indicates which have special importance.

Can you mix modes in music?

-When we use tones from a different mode than the one we are currently in, we are mixing modes. -This can happen during a passage of music or for only an instance. -A common way to mix modes is to borrow notes from a minor key, while in major, or vice versa. This can often result in BORROWED CHORDS.

What chord is Bm7?

In terms of construction, the Bm7 chord is made up of its root note B, a minor 3rd (D), a perfect 5th (F#), and a minor 7th (A). Simply play B, D, F#, and A together and you have a Bm7 chord.

Why are modes useful?

Changing the Mode allows us to emphasize different notes of the scale. There are many mnemonics for remembering how to construct the different Modes, but it is often easier to find the notes of a certain Mode in a specific key by looking it up on the Internet.

Are modes scales?

Modes are alternative tonalities, also known as scales. They can be derived from the familiar major scale by just starting on a different scale tone. For every key signature, there are exactly seven modes of the major scale: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian.

What does Dorian mean in music?

Degrees of the Dorian Scale The Dorian scale is a type of minor mode which means that the 3rd note of the scale is lowered by a half step (semitone). It also has a flattened 7th note.

How do you use modal interchange chords?

Modal interchange chords should be preceded- and followed by diatonic chords. Do not overuse. This could lead to an unwanted modulation or create an ambiguous key center. If using two or more modal interchange chords in row, be careful not to create a cadence to the I chord of the relative Ionian.

What are the guidelines for using modal interchange?

Finally, here are several general guidelines to keep in mind when using modal interchange: Make sure that there is no conflict between the melody and the chords. Make sure that the original key is clearly established. Modal interchange chords should be preceded- and followed by diatonic chords. Do not overuse.

What are some examples of modal interchange between different tonalities?

An example of parallel tonalities would be C Major and C Natural Minor. Relative tonalities would be something like C Major and A Natural Minor, that share the exact set of notes. Assuming that all music either is in a major or minor tonality/modality will give us four possible scenarios for modal interchange:

Why doesn’t the Lydian modal interchange work with C?

The Lydian mode ‘modal interchange’ has a D7 moving to the GMaj7. This creates a V-I perfect cadence which makes it sound like the tonal centre is G (that’s the nature of a V-I cadence – that’s how tonicization works). But we want C to sound like the tonal centre, so this particular modal interchange doesn’t work very well.