Modulation
Music Theory Resources
Pivot Chords
There are two basic types of pivot-chord modulations: diatonic and chromatic.
Here are possible pivot chords for each:
Diatonic
| Major | Minor | |
|---|---|---|
| Most Possible | ii, iii, IV, vi | III, iv, VI |
| Less possible | I | i |
| Never | V, viio, viio7 | V, VII, viio7, iio |
Exception: sometimes viio can equal viio, or viio can equal iio (or the reverse).
Chromatic (includes Enharmonic):
Possible: borrowed chords: bIII, iv, bVI, i borrowed chords: IV N N Ge+6 = V7 or secondary V7 only Ge+6 = V7 or secy. V7 viio7 = viio7 viio7 = viio7 secondary viio7 = viio7 or secondary viio7 same augmented triad = augmented triad same