UNIT 1.

2
MINOR KEYS
We can think about minor keys in terms of their relationship to major keys:

Parallel relationships
A major key and a minor key that are parallel to each other will share a tonic, not a key signature

The difference is in the third, sixth, and seventh scale degrees!

Major to minor: lower the 3rd, 6th, and 7th

Minor to major: raise the 3rd, 6th, and 7th

EX:
C major = C D E F G A B C
C minor = C D Eb F G Ab Bb C

Remember: in a parallel universe, C is still called C except it's minor.

Relative relationships
A major key and a minor key that are relative to each other will share a key signature, but not
tonic.

Take a major scale and, keeping all of the exact same notes, make the starting pitch LA or the
6th scale degree; this will give you its RELATIVE minor.
EX:
Eb major = Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb
C minor = C D Eb F G Ab Bb C

Relative! Starts on LA!

Remember: you are related to your relatives, so you have the same DNA (notes), but you have
different names.

This is important
“Relative” and “parallel” refer to the relationships between keys; they are not a type of key.

Ex:
D minor is F major’s relative minor; both have 1 flat.
E major is C# minor’s relative major; both have 3 sharps.
G minor is G major’s parallel minor; both have G as the tonic, but do not share key signatures (2
flats and 1 sharp, respectively).
TYPES OF MINOR
NATURAL MINOR - the kind found above - W h W W h W W

Example:
C natural minor: C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C
-The 7th scale degree is a subtonic! Notice that it is a M2 away from tonic.

HARMONIC MINOR - a natural minor but with the 7th scale degree raised

Example:
C harmonic minor: C D E♭ F G A♭ B C
-The 7th scale degree is now a leading tone - it is now only a m2 away from tonic.
-Sounds exotic because of the A2 between ^6 and ^7

MELODIC MINOR - a natural minor but with the 6th and 7th scale degrees raised ascending,
and lowered back to natural minor descending

Example:
C melodic minor: C D E♭ F G A B C B♭ A♭ G F E♭ D C

WHAT SCALE IS THIS???

HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN MAJOR, NATURAL MINOR,

HARMONIC MINOR, and MELODIC MINOR

1. Look at interval between ^1 and ^3

-if It’s a M3, it is a major scale. Double check the rest of the scale and make sure it
follows WWhWWWh. If it does, you’re done - it’s major.
-if it’s a m3, it is a minor, but what kind? Proceed to step 2.

2. Look at the interval between ^7 and ^8 (the upper tonic).

-If it’s a M2 (so ^7 is a subtonic), it’s natural minor. Double check to
see if there’s a M3 between ^6 and ^8. If so, you’re done - it’s natural minor.
-if it’s a m2, it’s either harmonic or melodic minor. Proceed to step 3.
-Tip: harmonic minor will have an A2 between ^6 and ^7

3. Look at the interval between ^6 and ^8 (the upper tonic).

-If it’s a M3, it is a harmonic minor.
-If it’s a m3, it is a melodic minor.