| To understand a parallel minor of a key, you first | | | | steps of a major scale or up 6 scale steps. The |
| have to understand what it is. It is a minor of a | | | | two will always have a different key signature of |
| particular major key which share the same | | | | sharps or flats. It can be the most confusing |
| common note factor. For example, G major and | | | | when you don't take them in the normal |
| G minor may have different modes and sound | | | | progression. |
| different, but they share the note of G as their | | | | For example, you would start with the major |
| common factor or tonic as it is called. It is the | | | | scale of a key, then to make a minor scale key |
| relationship of the minor to the major of the note | | | | starting on the same note or tonic, you would |
| that makes it parallel. | | | | have to use different notes to get that pattern |
| Its use in music began when composers started | | | | of steps using the same tonic note. A natural |
| borrowing chords from the parallel key in the | | | | minor scale beginning on the same note could be |
| early 19th century. They were able to give a | | | | known as its parallel minor, versus starting for a |
| song a different feeling, or a saddening of the | | | | relative minor, which is starting the six scale steps |
| tone by switching from a major key to its parallel | | | | higher or three lower. |
| minor. Of course, they could also brighten a song | | | | If this is still confusing, don't feel alone. It takes |
| by doing the reverse. | | | | some thought to compose, but by using these |
| There is a specific formula for calculating key | | | | two rules, you can figure out the minor scales, |
| signature of these parallels. You add three sharps | | | | whether they are relative or parallel. Another thing |
| or flats to the key signature to change to the | | | | to remember is that the major scale and relative |
| major or minor parallel, respectively. | | | | minor share the same key signature, while the |
| For example, flats appear in the order | | | | parallel will have a different one. |
| B-E-A-D-G-C-F and sharps appear in the opposite | | | | It is also possible to have parallel majors of a |
| order on a key signature, so if to change to a | | | | minor key, which uses these same rules. |
| minor of a key, you would add 3 flats to the key | | | | Understanding how you can use these variations |
| signature. So if the key of F major only has B | | | | of the same key will come in handy for adding |
| flat, then by adding the next three in the | | | | interest and key switching to your guitar music. |
| sequence, it would have B-E-A and D flats for the | | | | Understanding the principles of a parallel minor |
| parallel minor of F major. | | | | scale is the most frequently used because major |
| Sometimes, it can be confused with a relative | | | | scales are easier to understand initially, so it is a |
| minor, which is found by counting down three | | | | natural progression for most players. |