Exploring Modal Mixture with Chord Colors
For advanced musicians looking to expand their harmonic palette, modal mixture (also known as borrowed chords) is a powerful technique. The Chord Colors app provides an intuitive way to explore this concept, allowing you to experiment with chords from different scales and modes. Let's dive into how you can use the app to enhance your chord writing skills.
Understanding Modal Mixture
Modal mixture involves borrowing chords from parallel scales or modes. This technique can add color, emotion, and unexpected harmonic twists to your compositions. For example, in a major key, you might borrow chords from the parallel minor scale, or vice versa. The Chord Colors app makes it easy to visualize and hear these borrowed chords in context.
Using Chord Colors for Modal Mixture
Follow these steps to explore modal mixture in the Chord Colors app:
Step 1: Go to the Wheel Page
Open the sidebar by tapping the drawer menu icon at the top right of the screen. Navigate to the "Wheel" page.
Step 2: Open Wheel Settings
Tap the "Wheel Settings" icon located on the top left of the screen, just to the right of the drawer menu icon.
Step 3: Choose Scale or Interval
On the Wheel Settings screen, you can change the scale for the entire wheel or for individual intervals. To change the entire wheel, tap "All" at the top of the list. For a single interval, tap the corresponding interval in the list.
Step 4: Select the Borrowed Scale
Choose the scale you want to borrow from. The app allows any scale with exactly 7 unique notes (excluding pentatonic and chromatic scales). If you're borrowing for a single interval, you'll see how each scale affects that interval's chord.
Step 5: Experiment on the Wheel
Return to the wheel screen and explore how your changes have affected the sound and color of the chords.
Creative Applications
Now that you know how to use the app for modal mixture, here are some creative ways to apply this technique:
- Borrow the IV chord from the parallel minor scale in a major key composition for a more somber sound.
- Use the bII chord (Neapolitan chord) from the phrygian mode for a dramatic effect before a cadence.
- Experiment with borrowing the ii chord from the lydian mode in a major key for a brighter, more ethereal quality.
- Try using the bVI and bVII chords from the aeolian mode in a major key progression for a rock or pop feel.
- Explore borrowing the II7 chord from the lydian dominant scale for a jazz fusion flavor.
Tips for Effective Modal Mixture
As you experiment with modal mixture in the Chord Colors app, keep these tips in mind:
- Use borrowed chords sparingly for maximum impact.
- Pay attention to voice leading when incorporating borrowed chords.
- Consider the emotional effect of each borrowed chord and how it serves your composition.
- Experiment with different voicings of borrowed chords to find the most effective sound.
- Use the app's playback feature to hear how the borrowed chords fit into your progressions.
Conclusion
The Chord Colors app provides a powerful and intuitive way to explore modal mixture and expand your harmonic vocabulary. By visualizing and hearing borrowed chords in context, you can develop a deeper understanding of how these chords function and how to use them effectively in your compositions. Remember, the key to mastering modal mixture is experimentation and careful listening. Use the app as a playground for your harmonic ideas, and don't be afraid to push the boundaries of conventional harmony. Happy composing!
