Tonality: parallel tonality and the same name, their letter designation

This article is devoted to an extremely important topic in music - tonality. You will find out what the tonality is, what are the parallel and the same keys, and will also consider their letter designations.

What is tonality?

The word itself tells its meaning. She seems to set the tone for the whole piece of music. In fact, tonality is the basis of the work. From it they repulse, creating this or that musical composition. This is a kind of beginning.

For example, there is a key in C major. This means that the tonic, it's the first step of the fret, is the "before" sound. The main chord in this tonality consists of sounds of pre-mi-salt. This chord is called "tonic triad."

In this regard, before disassembling and playing a piece of music, the performer determines the basic tonality, the fretting, looks at the number of key signs, mentally determines what its parallel tonality is.

One and the same musical composition can be sung or played in completely different tonalities of the appropriate mode. This is applied, first of all, for the convenience of vocal performance.

The parallel tone used in the work can give a different color to the composition. For example, if a musical composition is written in a light key in D major, then its parallel tonality is a sad and tragic B minor.

Alphabet letter designation

The major is denoted dur, the minor has the designation moll. Sharp - is, flat - es. Below is a list of some parallel tonalities and their letter designations.

• In C major (no signs). Denoted by C-dur. The parallel key is in a minor (a-moll).

• F major - one flat (s). Has the designation F-dur. Its parallel is the D minor (d-moll).
• G major - one sharp (fa). Denoted by G-dur. Parallel to her tonality - E minor (e-moll).
• B flat major - two flat (si, mi). Has the designation B-dur. Its parallel is the G-moll minor.
• D major - two sharps (fa, before). Denoted by D-dur. Its parallel is the B minor (h-moll).

And so on.

What are parallel keys?

These are key and minor tonalities that contain the same key marks, but they have different tonics.

In the list above, some key and parallel to them are listed.

To find a parallel key to this major, you need to drop from the preset to m.3 (small third) down.

If it is required to determine the parallel tonality to this minor, then it is necessary to go up from the indicated one to b.3 (the big one).

The above list clearly demonstrates the parallel tones of the major and minor inclinations up to two characters with the key.

Tones of the same name

These are the ones that have the same tonic, but a different mood and, accordingly, absolutely different signs with the key.

For example:

• C-dur (no signs) - c-moll (three flat).
• F-dur (one flat) - f-moll (four flat).
• G-dur (one sharp) - g-moll (two flat).

And so on.

Thus, tonality is the original beginning of any musical composition for both the composer and the performer. Transposing a melody, that is, switching from one key to another, allows the vocalists to perform absolutely all compositions without hindrance. This transfer sometimes gives the product a completely new color. You can conduct an interesting experiment, and try a musical composition written in a major key, to perform in a minor (can be selected and parallel tone). The light and joyful mood will turn into sad and sad. In the twentieth century, the term "atonal music" appeared, that is, music that does not have an established tonality. But that's another story ...