Piano · Level 7 · Advanced

Borrowed chords: the minor iv on Piano

I–IV–iv–I in all 12 keys.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Borrowing the minor iv from the parallel minor key adds a moment of melancholy before returning home. It is a favourite of the Beatles and film composers alike.

Choose a key

C majorC · F · Fm · CD♭ majorD♭ · G♭ · G♭m · D♭D majorD · G · Gm · DE♭ majorE♭ · A♭ · A♭m · E♭E majorE · A · Am · EF majorF · B♭ · B♭m · FF♯ majorF♯ · B · Bm · F♯G majorG · C · Cm · GA♭ majorA♭ · D♭ · D♭m · A♭A majorA · D · Dm · AB♭ majorB♭ · E♭ · E♭m · B♭B majorB · E · Em · B

Listen first: C major

C

C major

Notes: C · E · G

Left hand: C2

F

F major

Notes: F · A · C

Left hand: F2

Fm

F minor

Notes: F · A♭ · C

Left hand: F2
♭
1
C
2
F
3
Fm
4
C

Why it works

This is modal interchange: taking a chord from the parallel minor while staying in the major key.

On another instrument

Borrowed chords: the minor iv on Guitar →Borrowed chords: the minor iv on Ukulele →Borrowed chords: the minor iv on Mandolin →Borrowed chords: the minor iv on Banjo →Borrowed chords: the minor iv on Violin →Borrowed chords: the minor iv on Flute →

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