Why do many songs in major keys use a bVII chord?

The use of chords from the parallel natural minor in a major key adds some dark or bluesy color to the typical major sound. Note that other modes, such as lydian, dorian and phrygian are also used for modal interchange, even though they are found more often in jazz than in pop or rock music.

1. What does bVII mean in music?
2. What is bVII chord?
3. What is bVII in the key of G major?
4. Why do so many songs use the same 4 chords?

What does bVII mean in music?

The flat-VII chord (bVII) is a great one to mix in with basic diatonic chords.

What is bVII chord?

Simply that the bVII7 chord is nothing more than a Dominant chord (7) that is built on the bVII degree of the key (Flat Seven aka the Subtonic). ... In a Major key, bVII is just a half-step below vii. If we are in the key of C, the bVII7 chord is Bb7.

What is bVII in the key of G major?

Usually, a bVII in major is a chord borrowed from the parralell minor. In this case A min the seventh degree would be G7 so you can play G mixolydien. There are other option depending on the context. You could be in an A mixolydien vamp in wich case the G would be maj7.

Why do so many songs use the same 4 chords?

The harmonic quality of an interval between notes (or how pleasing it sounds) is determined by the ratio of the frequency of each notes sound waves to one another. So two people singing the exact same note at the same time will produce a sound that blends together well.