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Parallel key

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Audio: parallel key (0:22)

Parallel key
Figure: parallel key

TYPESCALE
Diminished modeLocrian1b2b34b5b6b7
Minor modePhrygian1b2b345b6b7
Aeolian12b345b6b7
Dorian12b3456b7
Major modeMixolydian123456b7
Major1234567
Lydian1234#567
Minor keyHarmonic12b345b67
Melodic12b34567
Table: parallel key

parallel key plays a melody in parallel keys starting and ending on note C. The parallel key figure shows the score and the table lists the scales, their type, and the intervals they contain:

  • Bars 1-7: modulation through seven parallel modes.
  • Bars 8-11: modulation through four parallel major and minor keys.
  • Each bar contains all seven notes in the scale.
  • Two consecutive bars differ by one note (apart from bar 7 to 8).

A parallel key is a key that shares the same tonic note with another key but has a different scale.

A parallel key shares between two and six notes with another parallel key. No parallel key shares all its notes with another parallel key, there is always at least one note that differs.

The ionian (major), mixolydian and lydian modes form a group called the major modes. It is the interval of a major third above the tonic that separates this group from the other modes and the minor keys. The mixolydian and lydian modes each share six notes in common with the major scale and are closely related parallel major keys.

The aeolian (natural minor), dorian and phrygian modes form a group called the minor modes. It is the interval of a minor third above the tonic that separates this group from the major modes. The dorian and phrygian modes each share six notes in common with the natural minor scale are closely related parallel minor keys.

The locrian forms a lonely group of one. It is a diminished mode because it is the only mode with a diminished fifth above the tonic, all the other modes contain a perfect fifth. It only has one close relative, the phrygian, all the other modes are distantly related.

Minor keys form a curious bunch. The natural minor is closely related to the harmonic minor but distantly related to the harmonic minor. Yet the melodic minor is closely related to the major scale, with which it shares six notes in common. This is the main reason the melodic and harmonic minor scales were invented, they are more closely related to the major scale than is the natural minor scale.

Modulation to a parallel key is easy. Simply pivot on the tonic from one scale to the other.