Music Theory Parallel vs Relative Scales Explained

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]Now, another fascinating thing that is going on over here is that we are going from the major to the parallel minor.

[00:00:07]We're using the concept of a parallel scale. Parallel scale parallel versus relative. Uh Parallel versus relative scales, this is I think the first wall that people hit or one of the first walls that people hit in music where things stop making logical sense and we start working with internal logic because these two concepts are backwards. So, parallel scales relative scales A relative scale is that you have a scale, let's say the scale is C major, C D E F G A B, and a relative scale is going to be any scale that uses the same notes as the C major scale just starting from a different starting point parallel to the scale that we're in. So, we have the scale of C major.

[00:00:49]And if we then were to start it say in G using the same notes, now we have G mixolydian which is a relative scale to C major even though the notes are parallel to those of C.

[00:01:03]Then, we have parallel scales which is when you have this the the same note start and finish and then the notes in between change. So, let's say the parallel minor of