Arts, Music, and Recreation Hobbies & Activities parallel key Share Flipboard Email Print Image © Brandy Kraemer Hobbies & Activities Playing Piano Basics Lessons Chords Care & Maintenance Buying Advice Hiking Paddling Fishing Sailing & Boating Scuba Diving Playing Guitar Painting Drawing & Sketching Collecting Gambling Card Games Other Hobbies View More by Brandy Kraemer Updated June 01, 2017 Definition of Parallel Key: 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: Compare: ♫ G major and G minor scales The same can be observed in parallel chords (or “parallel tonic” chords): Ab Maj chord (♫ listen): A♭ - C - E♭Ab min chord (♫ listen): 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:■ 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 ▪ Notes of the Piano Keys ▪ The Point Of Double-Sharps ▪ Finding Middle C on the Piano ▪ Essential Piano Fingering ▪ Comparing Major & Minor ChordsGetting Started on Keyboards ▪ Finding the Right Piano Teacher ▪ Sitting Correctly at the Keys ▪ Playing Piano vs. Electric Keyboard ▪ How to Buy a Used Piano ▪ Musical Keyboard Comparison GuidePiano Chords ▪ Chord Types & Symbols in Sheet Music ▪ Root Notes & Chord Inversion ▪ Diminished Chords & Dissonance ▪ Essential Piano Chord Fingering ▪ Different Types of Arpeggiated ChordsPiano Care ▪ Everyday Piano Care ▪ Safely Whiten Your Piano Keys ▪ When to Tune a Piano ▪ Easy-to-Spot Signs of Piano Damage ▪ Piano Room Temps & Humidity LevelsPiano Recitals & Performing ▪ What to Eat & Drink Before a Performance ▪ Concert Etiquette for the Audience ▪ Warming Up for a Piano Performance ▪ Minimizing Stage Fright ▪ Overcoming Mistakes On Stage♫ Musical Quizzes! ● Identify the Piano Keys ● Key Signature Quiz ● Note Length & Rest Quiz (U.S. or U.K. English) ● Grand Staff Notes Quiz ● Tempo Command & BPM Quiz ● Time Signature & Rhythm Quiz ● Volume Commands & Dynamics Symbols Reading Piano Music• Note-Lengths in U.K. & U.S. English• Notes of the Piano Keys• Memorize the Grand Staff Notes• Reading Music RestsPiano Chords• Easy Bass Piano Chords• Chord Types & Symbols• Piano Chord Fingering• Diminished Chords & DissonanceReading Musical Symbols• Note Accents & Articulation Marks• How to Play Dotted Notes• Accidentals & Double-Accidentals• Reading Segno & Coda RepeatsBeginner Piano Lessons• Comparing Major & Minor• Understanding the Key Signature• Types of Barlines• BPM & Tempo Commands• Left Hand Piano Fingering Helpful Info For Owning a PianoHow 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 Temp & Humidity LevelsLearn how to maintain sound quality and piano health by monitoring the temperature, humidity, and natural light in your piano room. Illustrated Piano Chords:Abmaj ▪ Abma7 ▪ Abma9 | Abmin ▪ Abm7 ▪ Abm9 | Abdim ▪ Ab°7 | Abaug ▪ Ab+7 | Absus2 ▪ Absus4 Continue Reading