Violin · Level 7 · Advanced
Borrowed chords: the minor iv in D major on Violin
Don’t just read about Borrowed chords: the minor iv in D major. Play it.
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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.
D
Notes: D · F♯ · A
G
Notes: G · B · D
Gm
Notes: G · B♭ · D
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord as an arpeggio, one note at a time: D, G and Gm. Press play on the card, then match each note.
- Stay in first position: use the open string where you can and keep the fingers close to the string.
- Set the tempo to 66 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Change only the third of IV to make iv, and hold it for the full bar.
- Play the chord tones one at a time, one note per beat, with a full, even bow on each.
- Raise the tempo to 88 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for the emotional dip from IV to iv.
Listen for
Aim for the emotional dip from IV to iv. A common mistake is rushing past the minor iv.
Why it works
This is modal interchange: taking a chord from the parallel minor while staying in the major key.
D major has 2 sharps; its relative minor key is B minor.
Questions
What are the chords in I–IV–iv–I in D major?
In D major the progression is D | G | Gm | D.
What is the key signature of D major?
D major has 2 sharps. Its relative minor is B minor.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 7 lesson (advanced). If it feels too hard, start with “The minor ii–V–i”.
Your hands learn faster than your eyes.
Reading a chord chart is step one. Play it to a metronome, record it, and hear yourself get better, all in one app.
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