Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Have you learned how to sight read relative minor melodies, but want to be able to sing parallel minor too? We’ve already learned about La based shape note solfege minor melodies. In this post, you’ll learn about Do based shape note solfege as well. Read more to find out about singing shape note parallel minor melodies.
If you need to review the shape note basics read:
For a discussion of La based minor see:
The sing-along songs use synth voices rather than actual voices. Research has shown that this will help with the ability to recognize and produce absolute pitch information. For more information:
This article uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Scales for Singing Shape Note Parallel Minor Melodies
The Parallel Minor Scale
In Shape Note Solfege Minor Melodies, you sang in La based minor. The big benefit you get from La based minor is that you can use the same syllables as the major scale. La based minor gets used a lot for children for this reason.
Reading in La based minor does not change the notes sung. Rather, it changes which notes get emphasized. However, you can sing minor scales a different way. Do base minor allows you to change from a major key to a parallel minor by changing which syllables get sung.
The minor scales below (examples 1 and 2) contain the notes: E F# G A B C D E.
The major scale below (example 3) contains the notes: E F# G# A B C# D# E.
Therefore, the parallel minor scale has some notes that remain the same as the major scale: E F# A B (syllables Do Re Fa Sol).
However, it has some notes that differ:
- G# turns into G in E minor (the syllable Mi turns into May)
- C# turns into C in E minor (the syllable La turns into Lay)
- D# turns into D in E minor (the syllable Ti turns into Tay)
If you use the La based minor syllables, you lose the connection that E major and E minor have. When you sing shape note parallel minor melodies, you’ll use some of the same syllables as the major scale: Do Re Fa Sol. However, you will change certain syllables to the solfege flat versions: May Lay Tay (from Mi La Ti).
For a review of chromatic solfege:
The Sound Tracks
Try singing the shape note parallel minor, relative minor, and major scales below. The relative and parallel minor scales sound exactly the same. Therefore, I have given you only one sing-along sound track for them. Instead, they differ in which syllables you sing.
Notice that not only are the syllables different between the parallel and relative minor scales, but the note shapes change as well. Take note of which solfege syllables go with each note shape.
Also, listen to the difference in sound between the minor and major scales. Which notes sound the same and which notes change? How does this relate to the solfege syllables?
E Minor Scale:
E Major Scale:
Mobile users: for best results reading the music, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
Singing Shape Note Parallel Minor Melodies: Blessed Be the Maid Mary
In this post you’ll sing the old English carol Blessed Be the Maid Mary for your song. Don’t forget to sing the solfege syllables under each note. The tempo of the song is a little slow. I did this on purpose to make it easier to sing the syllables with the sound track.
Pay attention to the distances between the notes as this will help train your ear to hear melodies in tune. I have specifically used a tuning on the sound track that helps develop good melodic intonation.
Try singing the shape note parallel minor scale before you attempt the song. This helps your ear to get ready to perform in the parallel minor mode.
Just for fun, I have included a video of the song.
Blessed Be the Maid Mary:
Carol Video
Quiz for Singing Shape Note Parallel Minor Melodies
After you’ve mastered Blessed Be the Maid Mary, you can try singing the shape note parallel minor quiz
Concluding Thoughts on Singing Shape Note Parallel Minor Melodies
Any singer will be helped by the shape note notation. However, this is especially true for ADD, LD, ASD, and other special needs singers. Shape notes create a multisensory experience that benefits everybody.
As you can see, singing with the shape note parallel minor solfege syllables makes your sight reading more flexible. Thus, consistent practice with the soundtracks helps you absorb how the parallel minor mode works.
© 2021 Geoffrey Keith
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