Mixture – Definition

Definition: Mixture is the use of chords from a parallel key (i.e., parallel major, minor, or mode) in a piece of music.

Let’s look closely at the definition of mixture.

We will look at the definition backwards.

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Mixture is the use of chords from a . . .

Parallel key (i.e., parallel major, minor or mode) . . .

Parallel keys/scales start on the same note but have different key signatures. Most of the time, these parallel keys are parallel major and minor modes:

Examples:
C major (no flats or sharps) and C minor (3 flats)
G major (1 sharp) and G minor (2 flats)
B major (5 sharps) and B minor (2 sharps)

Parallel keys can also mean major keys and modes of the major scale. An example of this is the use of chords from Phrygian mode in a piece in major or minor. More explanation to come in the unit on the Neapolitan/Phrygian II chord.)

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Mixture is the use of . . .

Chords from a parallel key . . .

Although any chord from any parallel key can be used in a piece of music, there are certain chords that are used more often cases of mixture.

In a major scale, there are the following chords:

In a minor scale, there are these chords:

Chords from minor that are most often included in a major key include:
iio iv bVI

Here is an example:

Other chords that are borrowed from minor and put into major
(especially in jazz compositions) include:
bIII and bVII

A particular use of the bVII chord in jazz is called the Backdoor progression:
iv – bVII – I

An example of the backdoor progression is shown below:

Assuming the the down a fifth progression ii-V-I is the “front door progression,” the progression iv-bVII-I can be thought of as the “backdoor progression” since it is another (mostly) down a fifth progression to the I chord.

The chords from major keys most used in minor keys are
the major V – the dominant,
and the viio – the leading tone triad.

The dominant (V) and leading tone chord (viio) also come from the harmonic minor scale (which includes the raised 7th scale degree from major).

Another chord from major used in minor keys is the
major I chord – usually used at the end of a piece.
This use of the major I is called the Picardy Third.

An example of a Picardy third is shown below (the last chord):

Summary

Mixture is the use of chords from a parallel key (i.e., parallel major, minor, or mode) in a piece of music.

Chords from minor that are most often included in a major key include:
iio iv bVI

Other chords that are borrowed from minor and put into major (especially in jazz compositions) include:
bIII and bVII

A particular use of the bVII chord in jazz is called the Backdoor progression:
iv – bVII – I

The chords from major keys most used in minor keys are the major V – the dominant, and the viio – the leading tone triad.

A chord from major that is used in minor keys is the major I chord – usually used at the end of a piece. This use of the major I is called the Picardy Third.