Relative and Parallel Keys
Parallels: EASY!
 The parallel minor key of a major key is the
minor key with the same starting note
(tonic)
 ex. F minor to F major, Bb minor to Bb major
**they will have different key signatures!
One way to tell its key sig…
 F major (1 flat)
F G A Bb C D E F
 Its parallel minor: F minor (what’s the key sig? Use
the phone number!)
Start on F, then apply 212-2122.
F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F
(4 flats)
Now You Try…
 G Major (1 sharp)
G A B C D E F# G
 Its parallel minor is G minor:
G……
Relative Majors & Minors
 Keys which share the same key signatures
 In “couples” (one major, one minor): every major key
has a companion minor key with the same key sig.
These mate for life! Only the two of them share that
key signature!
How to Find the Relative Key
 You have a major key.
 You want to find its “companion key,” its relative
minor.
 In the scale of the major key, go to the 6th scale degree:
this note name is the relative minor key to that major
key.
 Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
Then start on G:
G A Bb C D Eb F G
(same notes as Bb major scale, but in new order:
natural minor! Wow!)
What would be the relative minor?
 E-flat major (3 flats)
 F major ( 1 flat)
 G major (1 sharp)
 C major (no sharps or flats)
Review of Minor Scales
Tell: the “Phone #”/Intervals AND the altered
pitches in each scale
 Melodic Minor
 Harmonic Minor
 Natural Minor
Guided Practice
 C natural minor
 D harmonic minor
 G melodic minor
 E natural minor
 A harmonic minor
Review Game on Monday
 Will be in PowerPoint format
 Give the intervals for one type of scale
 Given the intervals, what type of scale?
 Aural skills
 Define relative/parallel minor
 Give parallel/relative minor of a certain major key
 Write scale on chalkboard
 Given a scale—what type is it?