Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction to “What is a Parallel Mode and How Does it Work?”
“What is a parallel mode and how does it work? And how does a parallel mode differ from a relative mode?” Many musicians find the concept of modes confusing. I can help! Read more to answer the question, “What is a parallel mode and how does it work?”
How do you define the term mode?
- You can think of it as a specialized scale.
- Modes consist of patterns of intervals used for building scales and chords, and each mode has a distinctive arrangement of half and whole steps.
- Modes constitute an important subgroup of scale theory and form a foundational part of both Western and non-Western music.
This post uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the article.
What is a Parallel Mode and How Does it Work?
Major and Minor Modes
Mobile users: for best results reading the examples, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
“What is a parallel mode and how does it work?” To understand parallel modes, you also need to understand how relative modes work as well.
- For example, let’s look at the relative major and minor modes.
- If you have C major (C D E F G A B C), A natural minor will be the relative minor (A B C D E F G A).
- The relative major and minor both have the same notes but begin and end on a different note.
- The parallel minor of C major will be C natural minor (C D Eb F G Ab Bb C).
- It has the same pattern of whole steps and half steps as A natural minor, but it starts on C rather than A.
- Unlike A minor, C major has three flats, making the notes different from C major.
- Therefore, you could describe the parallel minor as being like a major scale that has its 3rd, 6th, and 7th scale tones lowered.
- Whether relative or parallel, the minor mode has the same pattern: W H W W H W W (where W = a whole step and H = a half step).
If you look at the keyboard graphic above. All whole steps have a key in between them, while all half steps have no key in between them regardless of whether the interval starts on a white or black key.
C Major Scale:
A Relative Minor Mode:
C Parallel Minor Mode:
Other Modes
G Mixolydian Mode:
G Major Scale:
“What is a parallel mode and how does it work?” You have more modes than just major and minor, such as the mixolydian mode.
- For example, G mixolydian mode could be thought of as being like a G major scale but with a lowered 7th.
- G mixolydian has the notes G A B C D E F G vs G major which has G A B C D E F# G.
- Because they start and end on the same note, but have slightly different note content, this makes them parallel modes.
- The pattern of the notes changed because the intervals have changed.
- G mixolydian can be relative to C major, giving both modes the same note content.
- C major has C D E F G A B C, and G mixolydian has G A B C D E F G, only the order of the notes has changed.
- In a sense, it doesn’t matter whether you explain a mode (such as mixolydian) in terms of parallel or relative.
Regardless of which way you look at it, mixolydian will always have the same pattern of whole and half steps: W W H W W H W.
Interval Patterns for the Modes:
- Ionian: W W H W W W H (same as the major scale)
- Dorian: W H W W W H W
- Phrygian: H W W W H W W
- Lydian: W W W H W W H
- Mixolydian: W W H W W H W
- Aeolian: W H W W H W W (same as the natural minor scale)
- Locrian: H W W H W W W
Concluding Thoughts to “What is a Parallel Mode and How Does it Work?”
“What is a parallel mode and how does it work?” The parallel minor starts and ends on the same note as the major scale. However, it has a different pattern of whole steps and half steps from the major mode or from the other five remaining modes.
Also, this gives each mode a distinctive sound quality, which you can use to create fun, exotic sounding music. Have fun playing and writing!
Related Posts
- Why Do Minor Keys Sound Sad to Me?
- Do I Really Have to Learn Music Theory to Learn How to Play Piano?
- D’you Want Some Music Tips and Tricks I’ve Learned Over the Years?
- Ten Ways to Spice Up Your Melodies with Melodic Variation
- Changing Keys in Your Songwriting
- Do You Want Cool Chords for Your Song?
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
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