All the white notes on the keyboard starting from A to A:
\n
\n…are the scale tones of the key of A minor:
\n
\nKeep in mind that the natural minor scale is the traditional scale of the minor key, For example, the A minor scale:
\n
\n…is the traditional scale of the key of A minor.<\/p>\n
Also note that in the natural minor scale, the half-steps are between the 2nd and 3rd tones, then the 5th and 6th tones. A closer look at the A minor scale: C minor: There’s a parallel minor and a relative minor key. Let’s define each of them before we go ahead to distinguish one from the other.<\/p>\n The parallel minor key is the minor key that has the same tonic with the major key. For example, if C major is given: The tonic of the key of C major is C: The key of C major: …shows that they share the same tonic (which is C) and that makes them parallel keys.<\/p>\n “Check Out These Two Examples…”<\/em><\/p>\n The parallel minor of the key of Eb major is Eb minor:<\/p>\n Eb major: …and this is because they share the same tonic — Eb: G minor: …because they have the same tonic (which is G): When a minor key shares the same key signature with a given major key, such a minor key is said to be a relative minor key to the given major key.<\/p>\n For instance, the key of C major and A minor:<\/p>\n C major: …have EXACTLY the same key signature — consequently, they are relative keys.<\/p>\n A look at the music clock: The first difference between the parallel minor key and the relative minor key is as clear as crystal:<\/p>\n Parallel minor keys have the same tonic with the given major key while relative minor keys don’t.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n For example, C major and C minor are parallel keys:<\/p>\n C major: …and they have the same tonic; unlike C major and A minor:<\/p>\n C major: …where the tonic of the major key differs from that of the minor key.<\/p>\n The second difference between the parallel minor key and the relative minor key is this:<\/p>\n Relative minor keys<\/em> have the same key signature with the given major key while parallel minor keys don’t.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n If you take a look at any relative keys (a major key and a minor key), you’ll notice that they are basically having the same notes:<\/p>\n C major: Unlike in parallel key relationship (like C major and C minor):<\/p>\n C major: …where both keys don’t have the same key signature.<\/p>\n Reading through up to this point lets me know that you’re interested in understanding the difference between the parallel minor key and the relative minor key.<\/p>\n In a subsequent lesson, we’ll go a step further into learning how chords can be borrowed <\/em>from the parallel minor key while you’re still in a major key.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, feel free to share your contributions, questions, and suggestions using the comment box below.<\/p>\n All the best.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Discover the key difference between the parallel minor key and the relative minor key in this lesson.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":22266,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[252,350,9],"tags":[17,2782,2784,2783],"class_list":["post-19223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beginners","category-music-etc","category-piano","tag-basic-songs","tag-parallel-minor-key","tag-parallel-minor-key-vs-relative-minor-key","tag-relative-minor-key","post-wrapper","thrv_wrapper"],"yoast_head":"\n
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\n…shows that the half-steps are between B and C (the 2nd and 3rd tones):
\n
\n…then E and F (the 5th and 6th tones):
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\n“Check Out All The Minor Keys On The Keyboard…”<\/em><\/p>\n
\n
\nC# minor:
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\nD minor:
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\nEb minor:
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\nE minor:
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\nF minor:
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\nF# minor:
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\nG minor:
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\nG# minor:
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\nA minor:
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\nBb minor:
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\nB minor:
\n
\nNow that we’ve reviewed the minor key, let’s go ahead and look at the parallel and relative minor keys.<\/p>\nThe Parallel Minor Key Vs The Relative Minor Key<\/h2>\n
The Parallel Minor Key<\/h3>\n
\n
\n…its parallel minor key would be any minor key that shares the same tonic with the key of C major.<\/p>\n
\n
\nConsequently, the parallel minor key of C major:
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\n…is the key of C minor:
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\nA closer look at the key of C major and C minor:<\/p>\n
\n
\nThe key of C minor:
\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n
\nEb minor:
\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n
\nThe key of G minor is considered as the parallel minor key of G major:<\/p>\n
\n
\nG major:
\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n<\/p>\n
The Relative Minor Key<\/h3>\n
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\nA minor:
\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hearandplay.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/circleoffiths1.png\")
\n…will show you the relative minor key for every given major key.<\/p>\nThe Parallel Minor Key Vs The Relative Minor Key<\/h3>\n
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\nC minor:
\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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\nA minor:
\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n
\nA minor:
\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n
\nC minor:
\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Final Words<\/h2>\n