29.2: Voice Leading Borrowed Chords

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29.2 Voice Leading Borrowed Chords

Borrowed chords, or chords making use of mode mixture, are handled similarly to their diatonic versions in terms of voice leading, e.g., iiøiiø7 is handled similarly to iiii7. In any of the borrowed chords with ♭6^ , resolve this tendency tone down by step whenever possible.

Principle 29.2.1. Voice Leading Borrowed Chords.

Resolve ♭6^ down by step when it is a chord member of a borrowed chord.

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Resolving ♭6^ down when voice leading borrowed chords

Another situation where you may encounter a borrowed chord is the VV–♭VIVIcadence, which should be handled the same as the deceptive cadence in minor (see Principle 26.7.4)—resolve the 3rd of the VV chord up by step and move the other two voices in contrary motion to the bass.

There are no specific rules for other borrowed chords such as ♭IIIIII, ♭VIIVII, ii, and vv; simply voice lead them as smoothly as possible while avoiding objectionable parallels.