Songs that use Modal Mixture

Modal Interchange, also known as Modal Mixture, is when we mix different parralel modes to create a tonality somewhere between our typical major and minor keys and it can result in some particularly tasty, intriguing chord progressions!

And, an extra special thanks goes to Douglas Lind, Vidad Flowers, Ivan Pang, Waylon Fairbanks, Jon Dye, Austin Russell, Christopher Ryan, Toot & Paul Peijzel, the channel’s Patreon saints! 😇

[glazdarklee]

I really appreciate the way you show what a song would sound like if the composer had taken the conventional approach.

[adam-ykyd]

I love the idea that songs aren't in "A Major" or "A minor" but just "A". Really simplifies things from an arranging, compositional and improvisation perspective.

[kevinmineroff]

Love how frequently the Beatle catalog can be used as examples

[ClueSign]

The Beatles' (specifically Lennon's) "I'll Be Back" is one of my favorite interchange examples, notably that haunting fadeout alternating between two keys.

[error]

Your videos are so immensely helpful. You always have the perfect examples to showcase a very particular piece of music theory. That makes it much easier to understand those concepts.

[ShaharHarshuv]

The IV-iv minor is so common that every time I hear a major key become minor in a song I naturally assume it's the IV chord even if I wouldn't recognize it otherwise.

[zoec.]

you know it's a david bennett piano video when the beatles and radiohead are both mentioned in the first minute and a half

[GlobalMiles]

Love David’s presentations...especially the outros. So generous. And human.
We need more of that.

[iximusic]

Another killer video, David. I love hearing the alternate chord examples. That Moody Blues example made my heart happy! My mom and I used to listen to it when I was growing up. The prevalence of modal interchange (and even the term itself) was a recent revelation for me when I starting to break down modern music. It's not as easy to find songs in my library that are not mixing modes, or modal, than I thought!

[AidanEyewitness]

I’ve heard this effect so many times. Now I know what it’s called! Excellent as always, thanks. Makes me look at music differently.

[patkcorcoran]

David understands it in addition to knowing how to explain it, try doing that folks.

[Breakstuff]

I honestly don't know where I'd be in my musical exploration without this channel. Pure gold! This is the channel I recommend everyone that ask questions

[InfiniteBeak]

I like how you show us how it would have sounded if they'd used different chords, most music analysis channels don't

[chasingcolours]

As a songwriter I love the experimental doors your videos open up, especially beatles modulations type stuff. Fascinating. Have recently been playing around with the phrygian mode and was looking for one of your excellent videos explaining the posibilities of changing between modes within a song a little more in depth. Any pointers you can offer here would be much appreciated :) All the best (from York)!

[altostratomus]

The intro to People of the Pride by Coldplay uses modal interchange form the parallel minor scale and Coloratura from the same album borrows from Mixolydian, Lydian and Minor. Its a cool song. Most of Coldplay's early stuff had a lot of modal interchange. Great vid and keep up the great work!

[acommon]

Request - I'd love to see you use a bit more Roman numeral notation. I realize it depends on the tonic, but it'd really help me think about the progressions as you talk about them

[neilingle]

I've spent the afternoon working my way through your videos, and am not only finding them useful, but also really like the way you link the ideas, e.g. in the Waterloo example where you explain that both the Lydian mode exchange and the Secondary Dominant ideas are correct... this is a sentiment that I find reassuring rather than hard 'right and wrong', and I have to commend you on that, because it gives me licence to go ahead and write music without worrying about stuffing up ;-)

[ChordyRingler]

“Falling On” by Finger Eleven has recently been my favorite example of this. It’s crazy how well it works despite the melody being unable to decide if it should sing C or C#.

[kevin_dasilva]

This is the topic that most interests me! One of my favorite videos of yours of all time is the one where you ranked the modes by brightness. That subject basically changed my life and ever since I have rediscovered music for myself and has also changed my compositions forever.

[tibbss]

I studied theory at University for a year and left feeling more confused than educated. Admittedly, classical theory is much more rigid in its structure but these lessons are much more practical and digestible. Thank You!