Minor Keys Introduction

Minor Keys

Relative and Parallel

What are relative keys?

Relative keys are one major and one minor key that are related to each other.

They share the same key signature, but have different tonics.

What does that mean?

Sharing a key signature means that they have all of the same notes in their scales.

However, they have a different starting pitch, also known as the tonic.

Let's use C Major as an example.

• The scale of C major starts on C

• When we construct the scale using the pattern of W W H W W W H....

• We see there are no sharps or flats

C Major scale

When we play a major scale it has a very distinct sound due to its pattern of whole and half steps.

C Major?

• Let's take that same C major scale

• But instead of starting on the 1st scale degree, let's start on the 6th

• The 6th scale degree is A

• Now play the scale from A to A using all the same notes in the C major scale

a minor scale

Now listen to what the scale sounds like from A to A with no sharps or flats

Relative

• You have now created the a minor scale

• The a minor scale shares the same key signature as C Major

• No sharps or flats

• They just start on different notes

• Therefore the key of a minor and C major are relative keys

Why do they sound different?

• Our pattern of whole and half steps has now shifted

• The new pattern is

• W H W W H W W

• This basically takes the major scale and lowers the 3rd, 6th and 7th scale degree 1/2 a step creating the new pattern

Let's try it with a different key!

G Major

G Major

• Find the 6th scale degree of the G major scale

• E

• Now play the scale from E to E using the same notes of the G Major scale

• Don't forget that there is one sharp, F#

G Major and e minor

Listen to what they sound like back to back.

What have we learned?

• Every major scale has a relative minor scale

• The minor scale shares the same pitches (and therefore the same key signature) as the major scale

• The minor scale begins on the 6th scale degree of the major scale

• The pattern of whole and half steps for the minor scale is W H W W H W W

Your Turn

See if you can find the relative minor to these major keys.

Fill in the Blank

What is the relative minor key of Bb Major?

Fill in the Blank

What is the relative minor key of A Major?

Fill in the Blank

What is the relative minor to Gb Major?

Fill in the Blank

What is the relative minor to E Major?

Minor to Major

Finding the relative Major, based off the minor key.

Minor to Major

• If the minor key is based off the 6th scale degree of the major,

• Then go up two more scale degrees

• 7th, octave

A Minor

• If we know we are in the key of a minor

• Then that means A is the 6th scale degree of some major scale

• Go up 2 more scale degrees, or a whole step and a half step

• Whole step = a-b, half step = b-c

• C Major is our relative major key

Your Turn!

Fill in the Blank

What is the relative major to g minor?

Fill in the Blank

What is the relative Major to c minor?

Fill in the Blank

What is the relative Major of d minor?

Fill in the Blank

What is the relative Major of b minor?

Parallel Minor

When a major and minor key share the same tonic, but have different key signatures.

C Major, and C Minor

• Notice they share the same starting note (tonic)

• If we compare the two scales, we can see that C major has no sharps or flats, but c minor contains 3 flats

• Take the C Major scale, and flat the 3rd, 6th and 7th scale degree

Let's try one together

• What are the notes in the A major scale?

• A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A

• Lower the 3rd, 6th and 7th scale degrees by half a step and what notes do you get?

• A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A

Recap

• Parallel minor/major means they share the same tonic

• To find the notes of the parallel minor scale you

• lower the 3rd, 6th and 7th scale degrees fo the major scale

Let's try a few.

Fill in the Blank

What is the parallel minor of G Major?

Fill in the Blank

What is the key signature for the parallel minor to G major?

Fill in the Blank

What is the parallel minor of E major?

Fill in the Blank

What is the key signature for the parallel minor to E major?