Definition

Parallel keys are major and minor keys that share the same keynote. G major and G minor are parallel keys, as are F# major and F# minor, etc. (Not to be confused with relative keys.)Parallel scales have the same order of note letters, and are nearly identical in pitch except for three notes:

D Major:  D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# D minor:  D - E - F  - G - A - Bb - C

So, the D minor scale could be interpreted as D Major with a flattened third, sixth, and seventh.

Comparing Parallel Scales

If you listen to parallel scales back-to-back, you can easily hear the difference between the major and minor moods, such as in ♫ G major and G minor scales.

The same can be observed in parallel chords (or “parallel tonic” chords), such as the Ab Maj chord - A♭ - C - E♭- and the Ab min chord - A♭ - C♭ - E♭

Also Known As

parallel tonic; parallel major/minor; tonic major/minortonalità parallele (It)tonalité parallèle (Fr)Varianttonart (Ger)(Not to be confused with Paralleltonart; German for relative key.)

Pronunciation: PAH-ruh-lell'

Musical Symbols Include:■ Staff & Barlines■ The Grand Staff■ Key Signatures■ Time Signatures■ Note Lengths■ Dotted Notes■ Music Rests■ Tempo Commands■ Accidentals■ Articulation■ Dynamics & Volume■ 8va & Octave Commands■ Repeat Signs■ Segno & Coda Signs■ Pedal Marks■ Piano Chords■ Trills■ Turns■ Tremolos■ Glissando■ Mordents 

Beginner Piano Lessons

Piano lessons can help you understand notes of the piano keys, the point of double-sharps, finding Middle C on the piano, essential piano fingering, and comparing major & minor chords.

Getting Started on Keyboards

To get started, the first step is finding the right piano teacher who can instruct you in various aspects of playing including sitting correctly at the keys, playing piano versus the electric keyboard, chord types and symbols in sheet music, and essential piano chord fingering.

♫ Musical Quizzes

Use online musical quizzes to test your knowledge!

Helpful Info For Owning a Piano

How to Safely Whiten Your Piano KeysLearn ivory-safe methods for brightening up your acoustic piano keys, and find out what you can do to prevent keyboard yellowing.

When to Tune a PianoFind out when (and how frequently) you should schedule a professional piano tuning to keep your piano healthy and on-pitch.Easy-to-Spot Signs of Piano DamageBefore you buy or sell an acoustic piano, learn how to assess it for both internal and external damage.

Ideal Piano Temperature & Humidity LevelsLearn how to maintain sound quality and piano health by monitoring the temperature, humidity, and natural light in your piano room.

Definition

Parallel keys are major and minor keys that share the same keynote. G major and G minor are parallel keys, as are F# major and F# minor, etc. (Not to be confused with relative keys.)Parallel scales have the same order of note letters, and are nearly identical in pitch except for three notes:

D Major:  D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# D minor:  D - E - F  - G - A - Bb - C

So, the D minor scale could be interpreted as D Major with a flattened third, sixth, and seventh.

Comparing Parallel Scales

If you listen to parallel scales back-to-back, you can easily hear the difference between the major and minor moods, such as in ♫ G major and G minor scales.

The same can be observed in parallel chords (or “parallel tonic” chords), such as the Ab Maj chord - A♭ - C - E♭- and the Ab min chord - A♭ - C♭ - E♭

Also Known As

parallel tonic; parallel major/minor; tonic major/minortonalità parallele (It)tonalité parallèle (Fr)Varianttonart (Ger)(Not to be confused with Paralleltonart; German for relative key.)

Pronunciation: PAH-ruh-lell'

Musical Symbols Include:■ Staff & Barlines■ The Grand Staff■ Key Signatures■ Time Signatures■ Note Lengths■ Dotted Notes■ Music Rests■ Tempo Commands■ Accidentals■ Articulation■ Dynamics & Volume■ 8va & Octave Commands■ Repeat Signs■ Segno & Coda Signs■ Pedal Marks■ Piano Chords■ Trills■ Turns■ Tremolos■ Glissando■ Mordents 

Beginner Piano Lessons

Piano lessons can help you understand notes of the piano keys, the point of double-sharps, finding Middle C on the piano, essential piano fingering, and comparing major & minor chords.

Getting Started on Keyboards

To get started, the first step is finding the right piano teacher who can instruct you in various aspects of playing including sitting correctly at the keys, playing piano versus the electric keyboard, chord types and symbols in sheet music, and essential piano chord fingering.

♫ Musical Quizzes

Use online musical quizzes to test your knowledge!

Helpful Info For Owning a Piano

How to Safely Whiten Your Piano KeysLearn ivory-safe methods for brightening up your acoustic piano keys, and find out what you can do to prevent keyboard yellowing.

When to Tune a PianoFind out when (and how frequently) you should schedule a professional piano tuning to keep your piano healthy and on-pitch.Easy-to-Spot Signs of Piano DamageBefore you buy or sell an acoustic piano, learn how to assess it for both internal and external damage.

Ideal Piano Temperature & Humidity LevelsLearn how to maintain sound quality and piano health by monitoring the temperature, humidity, and natural light in your piano room.

Definition

Parallel keys are major and minor keys that share the same keynote. G major and G minor are parallel keys, as are F# major and F# minor, etc. (Not to be confused with relative keys.)Parallel scales have the same order of note letters, and are nearly identical in pitch except for three notes:

D Major:  D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# D minor:  D - E - F  - G - A - Bb - C

So, the D minor scale could be interpreted as D Major with a flattened third, sixth, and seventh.

Comparing Parallel Scales

If you listen to parallel scales back-to-back, you can easily hear the difference between the major and minor moods, such as in ♫ G major and G minor scales.

The same can be observed in parallel chords (or “parallel tonic” chords), such as the Ab Maj chord - A♭ - C - E♭- and the Ab min chord - A♭ - C♭ - E♭

Also Known As

parallel tonic; parallel major/minor; tonic major/minortonalità parallele (It)tonalité parallèle (Fr)Varianttonart (Ger)(Not to be confused with Paralleltonart; German for relative key.)

Pronunciation: PAH-ruh-lell'

Musical Symbols Include:■ Staff & Barlines■ The Grand Staff■ Key Signatures■ Time Signatures■ Note Lengths■ Dotted Notes■ Music Rests■ Tempo Commands■ Accidentals■ Articulation■ Dynamics & Volume■ 8va & Octave Commands■ Repeat Signs■ Segno & Coda Signs■ Pedal Marks■ Piano Chords■ Trills■ Turns■ Tremolos■ Glissando■ Mordents 

Beginner Piano Lessons

Piano lessons can help you understand notes of the piano keys, the point of double-sharps, finding Middle C on the piano, essential piano fingering, and comparing major & minor chords.

Getting Started on Keyboards

To get started, the first step is finding the right piano teacher who can instruct you in various aspects of playing including sitting correctly at the keys, playing piano versus the electric keyboard, chord types and symbols in sheet music, and essential piano chord fingering.

♫ Musical Quizzes

Use online musical quizzes to test your knowledge!

Helpful Info For Owning a Piano

How to Safely Whiten Your Piano KeysLearn ivory-safe methods for brightening up your acoustic piano keys, and find out what you can do to prevent keyboard yellowing.

When to Tune a PianoFind out when (and how frequently) you should schedule a professional piano tuning to keep your piano healthy and on-pitch.Easy-to-Spot Signs of Piano DamageBefore you buy or sell an acoustic piano, learn how to assess it for both internal and external damage.

Ideal Piano Temperature & Humidity LevelsLearn how to maintain sound quality and piano health by monitoring the temperature, humidity, and natural light in your piano room.

Definition

Parallel keys are major and minor keys that share the same keynote. G major and G minor are parallel keys, as are F# major and F# minor, etc. (Not to be confused with relative keys.)Parallel scales have the same order of note letters, and are nearly identical in pitch except for three notes:

  • D Major:  D - E - F# - G - A - B - C#
  • D minor:  D - E - F  - G - A - Bb - C

So, the D minor scale could be interpreted as D Major with a flattened third, sixth, and seventh.

Comparing Parallel Scales

If you listen to parallel scales back-to-back, you can easily hear the difference between the major and minor moods, such as in ♫ G major and G minor scales.

The same can be observed in parallel chords (or “parallel tonic” chords), such as the Ab Maj chord - A♭ - C - E♭- and the Ab min chord - A♭ - C♭ - E♭

Also Known As

  • parallel tonic; parallel major/minor; tonic major/minortonalità parallele (It)tonalité parallèle (Fr)Varianttonart (Ger)(Not to be confused with Paralleltonart; German for relative key.)

Pronunciation: PAH-ruh-lell'

Musical Symbols Include:■ Staff & Barlines■ The Grand Staff■ Key Signatures■ Time Signatures■ Note Lengths■ Dotted Notes■ Music Rests■ Tempo Commands■ Accidentals■ Articulation■ Dynamics & Volume■ 8va & Octave Commands■ Repeat Signs■ Segno & Coda Signs■ Pedal Marks■ Piano Chords■ Trills■ Turns■ Tremolos■ Glissando■ Mordents 

Beginner Piano Lessons

Piano lessons can help you understand notes of the piano keys, the point of double-sharps, finding Middle C on the piano, essential piano fingering, and comparing major & minor chords.

Getting Started on Keyboards

To get started, the first step is finding the right piano teacher who can instruct you in various aspects of playing including sitting correctly at the keys, playing piano versus the electric keyboard, chord types and symbols in sheet music, and essential piano chord fingering.

♫ Musical Quizzes

Use online musical quizzes to test your knowledge!

Helpful Info For Owning a Piano

How to Safely Whiten Your Piano KeysLearn ivory-safe methods for brightening up your acoustic piano keys, and find out what you can do to prevent keyboard yellowing.

When to Tune a PianoFind out when (and how frequently) you should schedule a professional piano tuning to keep your piano healthy and on-pitch.Easy-to-Spot Signs of Piano DamageBefore you buy or sell an acoustic piano, learn how to assess it for both internal and external damage.

Ideal Piano Temperature & Humidity LevelsLearn how to maintain sound quality and piano health by monitoring the temperature, humidity, and natural light in your piano room.