Are you ready to take your songwriting to the next level?
Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just starting out, understanding how to incorporate modal and minor elements into your compositions can add depth and intrigue to your music. We’ll explore how to craft original chord progressions using modal and minor borrowing techniques, empowering you to create music that is uniquely yours
Understanding Modal and Minor Borrowing:
Before diving into crafting chord progressions, let’s first understand the concept of modal and minor borrowing. Modal borrowing involves borrowing chords or notes from a parallel mode of the current key. For example, if you’re in the key of D major, you can borrow chords from D Dorian or D minor to introduce new tonal colors into your music.
Crafting Chord Progressions:
To begin crafting your chord progression, start with a basic progression in a major key. Let’s use D major chord as a starting point. Now, let’s spice things up by borrowing chords from D Dorian and D minor.
D – F – D – F – Bb – C – Am – D
- Borrowing from D Dorian:
In D Dorian, we get the F major chord.and Em7, FM7, and G7. Let’s insert these chords into our progression:
D – F – D – F – Bb – C – Am – D
D – G – D – G – Em7 – FM7 – G7 – D
Notice how the Em7, FM7, and G7 chords introduce a different tonal flavor while still maintaining the overall feel of the progression.
- Borrowing from D minor:
D minor offers additional options for borrowing chords. You can see Bb and Am are incorporate these into our progression:
D – F – D – F – Bb – C – Am – D
Dm – F – Dm – F – Bb – C – Am – D
By borrowing chords from D minor, we add a more introspective quality to the progression.
Experimentation and Exploration:
Creating original music is all about experimentation and exploration. Don’t be afraid to try different chord substitutions or variations to find the sound that resonates with you. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Listen actively to music that incorporates modal and minor borrowing to gain inspiration and insight.
- Experiment with different chord voicings and inversions to create unique textures and harmonies.
- Trust your ear. Ultimately, the best chord progressions are the ones that sound right to you.
Remember, there are no rules in creativity—only endless possibilities.
