GUITAR
HOW TO BORROW CHORDS | David Harsh
Let ’ s discuss how to access , and then how to use relative and parallel minor keys , so that we can borrow chords . I highly recommend watching the companion video that goes with this article ( while it ’ s available ). Please check out the video at www . GuitarSuccess4U . com / BorrowChords .
THE RELATIVE MINOR KEY We can begin by reviewing ( or discovering ) the relationship between a Major key and its relative minor key . The word “ relative ” implies that something is “ related ,” right ? So , if our starting point is the key of C Major , with the chords : C , Dm , Em , F , G , Am , and Bdim , we can access the relative minor key by going up to the chord on the 6 th degree , or down to that same chord .
What is the minor vi chord in C Major ? It ’ s A minor . So , if we know the chords in C Major , we also know the chords in A minor , because that ’ s the relative minor key , and it shares the very same chords .
So , if I start on the minor vi chord , A minor , and make that my new minor i chord , I now have the chords : Am , Bdim , C , Dm , Em , F , and G . These are the same 7 chords , but I started on a different degree , and as I did this , I achieved the chords in the relative minor key .
I ’ m including two diagrams to show you what ’ s happening . First , check out the diagram that shows how to move from C Major to A minor . The blue lines in this diagram indicate the continuous chords in the key of C Major . But as my green swoopy arrow shows , I can jump up from C to the minor vi chord for A minor . My orange swoopy arrow shows the other way to access the minor vi chord , by going down from C to the same minor vi chord . Then , as the table just below that line
of chords shows , I can extract the chords in A minor , highlighted by a red line .
So that ’ s how we can access the relative minor key , which also shares the same key signature as its relative Major key , in this case , zero sharps or flats .
THE PARALLEL MINOR KEY Let ’ s switch gears now as we talk about how to access the parallel minor key . When I think of the word “ parallel ,” I think of 2 lines that never intersect . In other words , these 2 parallel keys can start on the same note , but they are not related . Let ’ s put this into practical use . Again , if we reference the key of C Major , we again have the chords : C , Dm , Em , F , G , Am , and Bdim .
If I want to access the parallel minor key of C Major , what would that be ? Don ’ t think too hard . It ’ s just C minor ! And although they start on the same C note , those chords are completely different . They are : Cm , Ddim , Eb , Fm , Gm , Ab , and Bb . Not a single one of those chords is the same as the chords in the parallel Major key of C Major .
Have a look at my second diagram that shows us how to move from C Major to C minor . As you can see from this table , there are zero flats in the key of C Major , but there are three flats in the key of C minor .
Now , playing in three flats is not as easy , because really , we only have access to moveable or bar chords here . But there ’ s a work-around , and I think you may know what that is . It involves placing the capo on the 3 rd fret , and then just playing the same shapes we just played in A minor . The shapes are : Am , Bdim , C , Dm , Em , F , and G . Note that even though these shapes correspond to the key of A minor , the chords with the capo on the 3 rd fret are in C minor .
BORROWING CHORDS FROM THE PARALLEL MINOR So now we have access , not only to the relative minor , but also the parallel minor . But why is all of this helpful ? Well , if I ’ m playing in C Major , I can easily modulate to and from A minor . If I ’ m playing in C Major and I want to borrow a chord or two from the parallel C minor , this is not only possible , it ’ s very