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In music theory, a major scale and a minor scale that have the same starting note are called parallel keys and are said to be in a parallel relationship. [1] [2] For example, G major and G minor have the same tonic (G) but have different modes, so G minor is the parallel minor of G major.
The usual parallel chord in a major key is a minor third below the root and the counter parallel is a major third above. In a minor key the intervals are reversed: the tonic parallel (e.g. Eb in Cm) is a minor third above, and the counter parallel (e.g. Ab in Cm) is a major third below.
In the key of C major, these would be: D minor, E minor, F major, G major, A minor, and C minor. Despite being three sharps or flats away from the original key in the circle of fifths, parallel keys are also considered as closely related keys as the tonal center is the same, and this makes this key have an affinity with the original key.
Its parallel major, E-sharp major, is usually replaced by F major, as E-sharp major’s four double-sharps make it impractical to use. Because of that enharmonic relationship, it is usually noted as the enharmonic minor of F minor whose key signature has four flats.
Its parallel major, C-sharp major, is usually written instead as the enharmonic key of D-flat major, since C-sharp major’s key signature with seven sharps is not normally used. Its enharmonic equivalent, D-flat minor , having eight flats including the B , has a similar problem.
The piece ends in E ♭ minor, the parallel minor key to where it started (E ♭ major). While it is not unusual to end a minor-key composition in the parallel major, it is much less common to find a piece ending in this manner. (See List of major/minor compositions.)
Its relative major is F-sharp major (or enharmonically G-flat major). Its parallel major, D-sharp major, [2] is usually replaced by E-flat major, since D-sharp major's two double-sharps make it impractical to use. Its enharmonic equivalent, E-flat minor, has six flats. The D-sharp natural minor scale is:
Mozart's only composition in this key is the second movement to his Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major. [3] F-sharp minor is sometimes used as the parallel minor of G-flat major, especially since G-flat major's real parallel minor, G-flat minor, would have nine flats including two double-flats.