CH 4- Minor Keys and Key Signatures
Relative key Signatures
Two keys represented by each key signature are relative keys
Determining names of relative keys
Identify major key
Count to sixth scale degree
The relative minor of C major is A minor
Fifteen major keys and fifteen minor keys
Twelve possible minor keys and fifteen ways to notate them
Three Keys have enharmonic spelling:
G# and Ab minor
D# and Eb minor
A# and Bb minor
You can find a relative minor by playing the major scale, and moving down three half steps
You must skip a letter between name of major key and name of minor key
Go up three half steps to find relative major
when counting half steps, do not number starting note like numbering intervals
Determining Keys
A piece of tonal music should end on the last note of its key/ scale
If a composition ends with a chord, the lowest note will form the name of the key
Natural Minor Scales
Minor scale pattern: W H W W H W W
In an actual piece of music, the seventh note of minor scale is raised a half step to create a leading tone
Other Forms of the minor scale
Harmonic Minor
Raises seventh scale degree to create a leading tone
Accidental is never placed in the key signature
Rules:
If 7th degree is natural in key signature, it will need a sharp
If flat, it will need a natural
If sharp, it will need a double sharp
Melodic Minor
Most commonly used and most complicated
Uses different accidentals depending on if its ascending or descending
When ascending, sixth and seventh degrees are raised a half step higher
When descending, SD 6&7 are lowered back to original position
Has more pitch resources from which to choose when constructing minor melody
Provides greater harmonic resources
Parallel Key Relationships
Parallel keys start on the same note, rather than share a key signature
Scale Degrees
Tonic
Supertonic
Mediant
Subdominant
Dominant
Submediant
Subtonic
Leading tone