Relative vs Parallel Minor Flashcards: Scale Spelling & Repairs

Practice relative and parallel minor with mixed key relationships, natural-minor note changes, accidental repairs, and checks on what a signature can tell you.

O tomto balíčku

Keeping the tonic and keeping the signature lead to different minor keys. These 48 text-only cards help you choose the relationship first, then spell or repair the note it requires.

The cards practice four mappings:

  • A request or supplied key pair → relative, parallel, or neither, with the preserved feature explained.
  • A supplied major or natural-minor scale → one degree in the parallel scale. Both directions are included, with sharp cancellation and spellings such as E♯, B♯, C♭, and F♭.
  • One faulty key name, accidental, note spelling, or signature claim → a precisely constrained repair.
  • A signature or limited tonal evidence → what you can conclude, including why a local harmonic-minor seventh doesn’t change the underlying relative key.

Six short anchors introduce the rules before the mixed practice. Common note changes come before the less familiar sharp and flat spellings; related examples and inverse prompts are separated by at least three other cards. The review scheduler handles longer-term spacing after installation. Each prompt includes its own key or scale context.

This is written practice for beginning instrumentalists and theory learners who already recognize note names. It leaves out ear training, complete scale grids, all 15 relative-pair lookups, theoretical signatures, double accidentals, and harmony or modulation exercises. The Circle of Fifths deck covers the full relative-pair lookup; Major & Minor Key Signatures practices written staff signatures; Music Intervals covers interval recall.

For worked explanations, read Relative vs Parallel Minor. The Music Theory Flashcards guide helps plan broader practice.

These questions, answers, examples, sequence, metadata, and decorative AI-generated cover were independently authored. Common music facts were checked against the University of Puget Sound’s Minor Key Signatures and Minor Scales. Their protected wording, exercises, notation, and figures were not adapted; no examination questions, competitor cards, or third-party media were copied. CC0 1.0 applies to the original elements to the extent applicable rights exist, without claiming ownership of musical facts. This independent deck has no examination or curriculum alignment.

Kartičky v tomto balíčku

  1. Kartička 1

    Otázka

    A major key and its relative minor preserve which written feature?

    Odpověď

    The key signature. The minor tonic is major’s degree 6; the major tonic is natural minor’s degree 3. The tonic changes, while the natural-minor notes use the shared signature.

  2. Kartička 2

    Otázka

    When changing one scale degree from major to parallel natural minor, what must stay the same in that degree’s written note?

    Odpověď

    Its letter name. Change the accidental by a semitone when needed; replacing the letter can break the scale spelling.

  3. Kartička 3

    Otázka

    Which degrees change when a major scale becomes its parallel natural minor, and by how much?

    Odpověď

    Lower degrees 3, 6, and 7 by one semitone each. Degrees 1, 2, 4, and 5 stay the same.

  4. Kartička 4

    Otázka

    A key answer says only “B♭.” What extra word is needed to identify the key’s mode?

    Odpověď

    Major or minor. “B♭ major” and “B♭ minor” name different keys.

  5. Kartička 5

    Otázka

    Which form of a minor scale supplies the notes represented by its key signature?

    Odpověď

    Natural minor. Raised degrees in harmonic or melodic minor are written as local accidentals.

  6. Kartička 6

    Otázka

    A major key and its parallel minor preserve what about their tonic?

    Odpověď

    The same tonic, including its accidental. Only the mode changes in the key name.

  7. Kartička 7

    Otázka

    E major has degree 6 C♯. You need a minor key with E major’s key signature. Which key fits?

    Odpověď

    C♯ minor. The request preserves the signature, so choose the relative minor from degree 6.

  8. Kartička 8

    Otázka

    F major: F–G–A–B♭–C–D–E. What is degree 6 in its parallel natural minor?

    Odpověď

    D♭. Lower the major-scale D by one semitone and keep the D letter.

  9. Kartička 9

    Otázka

    E major: E–F♯–G♯–A–B–C♯–D♯. What is degree 3 in E natural minor?

    Odpověď

    G. Lower G♯ by one semitone; the sharp disappears.

  10. Kartička 10

    Otázka

    B major’s degree 7 is A♯. A learner writes A♭ for degree 7 of B natural minor. Replace only that note.

    Odpověď

    A. Lowering A♯ by one semitone gives A, not A♭.

  11. Kartička 11

    Otázka

    B minor and B major: relative, parallel, or neither?

    Odpověď

    Parallel. Both have tonic B, with different modes.

  12. Kartička 12

    Otázka

    A piece’s key signature contains B♭ and E♭. Among major and minor keys, what candidates does that signature give you?

    Odpověď

    B♭ major and G minor. The signature alone doesn’t choose between those tonal centers.

  13. Kartička 13

    Otázka

    B♭ major: B♭–C–D–E♭–F–G–A. What is degree 7 in B♭ natural minor?

    Odpověď

    A♭. Lower A by one semitone, keeping the A letter.

  14. Kartička 14

    Otázka

    F major and D minor each have one flat, B♭. Are they relative or parallel?

    Odpověď

    Relative. Their signatures match and their tonics differ.

  15. Kartička 15

    Otázka

    A learner names F minor as the parallel minor of F♯ major. Keep the requested relationship and repair only the key name.

    Odpověď

    F♯ minor. A parallel key keeps the entire tonic name, including ♯.

  16. Kartička 16

    Otázka

    C natural minor: C–D–E♭–F–G–A♭–B♭. What is degree 3 in its parallel major?

    Odpověď

    E. Raise E♭ by one semitone to restore the major third.

  17. Kartička 17

    Otázka

    You start in E minor and need a major key with the same tonic. Which key do you choose?

    Odpověď

    E major. Keeping the tonic makes this a parallel relationship.

  18. Kartička 18

    Otázka

    F♯ major: F♯–G♯–A♯–B–C♯–D♯–E♯. What is degree 6 in F♯ natural minor?

    Odpověď

    D. Lower D♯ by one semitone, preserving its letter.

  19. Kartička 19

    Otázka

    A melody ends on A. With no signature or harmonic context supplied, does that last note prove A minor?

    Odpověď

    No. A final A alone doesn’t establish the tonal center or mode; examine the surrounding melody and harmony.

  20. Kartička 20

    Otázka

    E♭ major’s degree 6 is C. For E♭ natural minor, a learner writes B because it sounds like the needed pitch in equal temperament. Repair only the degree-6 spelling.

    Odpověď

    C♭. Lower C by one semitone and retain the degree’s C letter.

  21. Kartička 21

    Otázka

    G major and E minor both use F♯ in their signatures. How are these two keys related?

    Odpověď

    Relative. They share a signature while using different tonics and modes.

  22. Kartička 22

    Otázka

    A♭ natural minor: A♭–B♭–C♭–D♭–E♭–F♭–G♭. What is degree 7 in A♭ major?

    Odpověď

    G. Raise G♭ by one semitone; the letter stays G.

  23. Kartička 23

    Otázka

    G natural minor begins G–A–B♭. A learner calls G major its relative major. Keep the relative relationship and repair the key name.

    Odpověď

    B♭ major. The relative major starts on natural minor’s third degree, B♭.

  24. Kartička 24

    Otázka

    A major: A–B–C♯–D–E–F♯–G♯. What is degree 3 in A natural minor?

    Odpověď

    C. Lower C♯ by one semitone; don’t add a flat after cancelling the sharp.

  25. Kartička 25

    Otázka

    C major has no signature accidentals; G minor has B♭ and E♭. Are these keys relative, parallel, or neither?

    Odpověď

    Neither. Their signatures differ, and C and G are different tonics.

  26. Kartička 26

    Otázka

    In B minor, A♯ appears as the raised seventh of harmonic minor. Does that make A♯ part of B minor’s key signature?

    Odpověď

    No. B minor’s signature still has F♯ and C♯; A♯ is a local alteration of the natural-minor A.

  27. Kartička 27

    Otázka

    E♭ natural minor: E♭–F–G♭–A♭–B♭–C♭–D♭. What is degree 6 in E♭ major?

    Odpověď

    C. Raise C♭ by one semitone to restore the major sixth.

  28. Kartička 28

    Otázka

    C natural minor’s degree 6 is A♭. A learner lowers it again to build C major. What note should replace that attempted degree 6?

    Odpověď

    A. Moving from natural minor to parallel major raises degree 6 by one semitone.

  29. Kartička 29

    Otázka

    C♯ major: C♯–D♯–E♯–F♯–G♯–A♯–B♯. Which minor key keeps that scale’s tonic?

    Odpověď

    C♯ minor. The tonic stays C♯ in the parallel minor, even though the signature changes.

  30. Kartička 30

    Otázka

    E major: E–F♯–G♯–A–B–C♯–D♯. What is degree 7 in E natural minor?

    Odpověď

    D. Lower D♯ by one semitone; E natural minor uses D natural.

  31. Kartička 31

    Otázka

    F major’s degree 3 is A. A learner uses G♯ for degree 3 of F natural minor. Keep the intended pitch in equal temperament and repair only its spelling.

    Odpověď

    A♭. Degree 3 needs the letter A; G♯ would repeat the second degree’s G letter.

  32. Kartička 32

    Otázka

    B♭ natural minor begins B♭–C–D♭. Which major key shares its signature?

    Odpověď

    D♭ major. The third degree supplies the relative major tonic; both keys have five flats.

  33. Kartička 33

    Otázka

    C♯ natural minor: C♯–D♯–E–F♯–G♯–A–B. What is degree 3 in C♯ major?

    Odpověď

    E♯. Raise E by one semitone and keep the E letter, even though E♯ sounds like F in equal temperament.

  34. Kartička 34

    Otázka

    Someone asks for “the minor key related to F major.” Is that enough to choose uniquely between a relative and a parallel minor?

    Odpověď

    No. Ask whether to keep the signature or the tonic; “related” doesn’t specify which relationship they want.

  35. Kartička 35

    Otázka

    A learner claims G major and G minor must share a signature because they are parallel. Repair only the signature claim.

    Odpověď

    Their signatures differ: G major has F♯; G minor has B♭ and E♭. Parallel keys keep the tonic, not the signature.

  36. Kartička 36

    Otázka

    A♭ major: A♭–B♭–C–D♭–E♭–F–G. What is degree 6 in A♭ natural minor?

    Odpověď

    F♭. Lower F by one semitone and keep its letter; E would be the wrong degree spelling.

  37. Kartička 37

    Otázka

    F♯ major and D♯ minor both have six sharps in their signatures. Which relationship fits?

    Odpověď

    Relative. Their signatures match, while their tonic names differ.

  38. Kartička 38

    Otázka

    C♯ natural minor’s degree 7 is B. A learner uses C for degree 7 of C♯ major. Keep the intended pitch in equal temperament and repair only its spelling.

    Odpověď

    B♯. Raise B by one semitone, retaining the seventh degree’s B letter.

  39. Kartička 39

    Otázka

    E minor’s natural seventh is D; harmonic minor raises it to D♯ locally. Does that alteration change E minor’s relative major from G major?

    Odpověď

    No. E minor and G major still share the one-sharp signature; a local D♯ doesn’t redefine that relationship.

  40. Kartička 40

    Otázka

    F natural minor: F–G–A♭–B♭–C–D♭–E♭. What is degree 7 in F major?

    Odpověď

    E. Raise E♭ by one semitone to restore the major seventh.

  41. Kartička 41

    Otázka

    A major uses three sharps; A minor uses none. Can they still be parallel keys?

    Odpověď

    Yes. Both use tonic A. Parallel keys don’t need matching signatures.

  42. Kartička 42

    Otázka

    E major’s degree 3 is G♯. A learner changes it to G♭ for E natural minor. Replace only the incorrect note.

    Odpověď

    G. The move is one semitone down from G♯, not two.

  43. Kartička 43

    Otázka

    G natural minor: G–A–B♭–C–D–E♭–F. What is degree 6 in G major?

    Odpověď

    E. Raise E♭ by one semitone, retaining its letter.

  44. Kartička 44

    Otázka

    C natural minor begins C–D–E♭. You need the major key with the same signature. Which key fits?

    Odpověď

    E♭ major. Degree 3 supplies the relative major tonic; both keys have three flats.

  45. Kartička 45

    Otázka

    C♯ major and C minor have the same tonic letter. Does that alone make them parallel keys?

    Odpověď

    No. C♯ and C are different tonics; a matching letter without its accidental is insufficient.

  46. Kartička 46

    Otázka

    B natural minor: B–C♯–D–E–F♯–G–A. What is degree 3 in B major?

    Odpověď

    D♯. Raise D by one semitone to restore the major third.

  47. Kartička 47

    Otázka

    A learner uses E for degree 6 of A♭ natural minor. Keep the intended pitch in equal temperament and use the correct scale-degree letter. Repair only the note spelling.

    Odpověď

    F♭. The sixth degree must use F; E already names the fifth degree’s letter.

  48. Kartička 48

    Otázka

    Starting from E major, can a minor key keep both its tonic E and its four-sharp signature?

    Odpověď

    No. E minor keeps the tonic but has one sharp; C♯ minor keeps the four-sharp signature but changes the tonic.

Paper-cut piano keys with ochre and teal ribbons and decorative musical notes.

48 kartiček

Relative vs Parallel Minor Flashcards: Scale Spelling & Repairs

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