Common chord (music)

For other music articles, see Pivot#Music.

A common chord is a chord that is diatonic to more than one key or, in other words, is common to two keys.^[1] A "common chord" may also be defined as a triadic chord^[2] (ex., C-E-G) or as one of the most commonly used chords in a key (I-IV-V-vi-ii).^[3]

Common chords are frequently used in modulations, in a type of modulation known as common chord modulation or diatonic pivot chord modulation. It moves from the original key to the destination key (usually a closely related key) by way of a chord both keys share. For example, G major and D major share 4 chords in common: G, Bm, D, Em. This can be easily determined by a chart similar to the one below, which compares chord qualities. The I chord in G major—a G major chord—is also the IV chord in D major, so I in G major and IV in D major are aligned on the chart.

C major:	V	vi	vii°	I	ii	iii	IV
G major:	I	ii	iii	IV	V	vi	vii°
D major:	IV	V	vi	vii°	I	ii	iii

Any chord with the same root note and chord quality can be used as the "pivot chord." However, chords that are not generally found in the style of the piece (for example, major VII chords in a Bach-style chorale) are also not likely to be chosen as the pivot chord. The most common pivot chords are the predominant chords (ii and IV) in the new key. When analyzing a piece that uses this style of modulation, the common chord is labeled with its function in both the original and the destination keys, as it can be seen either way.

A chord is common to, or shared by, six keys: three major keys, and three relative minor keys. For example, a C major chord is contained in F, C, and G major as well as D, A, and E minor.

Related keys

The number of diatonically occurring chords that two keys share is a measure of how closely related they are. A closely related key can be defined as one that has many common chords. A relative major or minor key has all of its chords in common; a dominant or subdominant key has four in common. Less closely related keys have two or fewer chords in common.

For example, C major and A minor have 7 common chords while C major and F♯ major have 0 common chords.

Sources

^ Benward & Saker (2003). Music in Theory and Practice Vol. I, p.244. ISBN 978-0-07-294262-0.
^ Johnson, Artemas Nixon (1854). Practical instructions in harmony, upon the Pestalozzian or inductive system, p.5. Ditson.
^ Hill, Brad (2001). The complete idiot's guide to playing piano, p.133&135. ISBN 9780028641553.

Chords

By type

Triad	Major Minor Augmented Diminished Suspended

Seventh	Major Minor Dominant Dominant seventh flat five Diminished Half-diminished Diminished major Minor-major Augmented major Augmented minor Nondominant Harmonic seventh chord

Extended	Ninth Eleventh Thirteenth Upper structure

Added / omitted	Sixth Minor sixth Augmented sixth Power chord Lydian chord Seven six chord

By function

Diatonic	Tonic Dominant Subdominant Supertonic Mediant Submediant Leading / Subtonic

Altered	Approach Borrowed Chromatic mediant Neapolitan chord Passing

Secondary	Secondary dominant Secondary leading-tone Secondary supertonic

With names

Other

Common chord (music)

Related keys

See also

Sources