PARALLEL AND RELATIVE



1. The parallel minor scale starts and ends on the sixth tone.
    It starts a minor third under the first tone of the major scale.
    The tones of the parallel minor and major scale are exactly the same:


2. The relative minor scale starts on the same tone as the major scale.
    You have to lower the 3rd, the 6th and the 7th tone of the major scale.

When you have to write down a harmonic of melodic scale, remember also the numbers 3, 6 and 7:
The 3rd is ALWAYS minor.Harmonic has a raised 7th and melodic has a raised 6th and 7th, but natural when going down.

Example of a question: Write down de parallel and relative scale of D-major.

- First write down the notes from D to D.
- Note all the distances as you know from the natural scale.
- Make the necessary corrections in the distances with accidentals; C and F will become C and F.
- The parallel minor scale starts a minor third lower, so from b to b.
- The relative minor scale will have a lowered 3rd, 6th and 7th, so F, B and C.
- The harmonic and melodic scale will be achieved by adaption of 6 (and 7).