Modal Interchange

©2011 m.mermikides@surrey.co.uk

Here is a quick survey of commonly modes and their characteristic chords that are
often borrowed into parallel keys. They have been divided into minor and major
modes depending on whether the mode has minor or major 3rd.
The most common interchange chords are bold.

Minor Mode Notes with C root Description Character chords

Dorian C, D, Eb, F, G, A, B Natural minor scale IIm, IIm7
(Mode 2 of major) with major 6th IV, IV7
Phrygian C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb Natural minor scale bII, bIImaj7
(Mode 3 of major) With minor 2nd bVIIm
Aeolian C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb Natural minor scale IVm, IVm7
(Mode 6 of major) (minor 6th & 7th) bVI, bVImaj7
bVII, bVII7
Melodic Minor C, D, Eb, F, G, A, B Natural minor scale Im(maj7)
with major 6th & 7th bIII#5, bIIImaj7(#5)
(Or major with minor IV7(#11)
3rd ) VIIm7(b5)

Harmonic Minor C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, B Natural minor scale Im(maj7)

with major 7th V7(b9), V7(b13)
VIIdim7
Major Mode Notes with C root Description Character chords
Lydian C, D, E, F#, G, A, B Major scale with raised II, II7
(augmented) 4th Vmaj7
(Mode 4 of major)
Mixolydian C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb Major scale with minor I7
7th Vm, Vm7
(Mode 5 of major) bVII, bVIImaj7

Lydian b7 C, D, E, F#, G, A, Bb Major scale with raised I7(#11)

(Mode 4 of Melodic minor) (augmented) 4th and I7 and II7 found
minor 7th together
Phrygian Dominant C, Db, E, F, G, Ab, Bb Phrygian with major 3rd I and bII found
or together
(Mode 5 of Harmonic Mixolydian b9
minor) Or Major with minor
2nd, 6th and 7th
Harmonic Major C, D, E, F, G, Ab, B Major scale with minor I(b6), Imaj7(b6)
6th IVm(maj7)

Altered C, Db,Eb,E,Gb,Ab,Bb All degrees flattened I7 (b9/#9/b5/b13)

(Mode 7 of Melodic (major #1 !) I7 alt
Minor)