Inmusic theory, amajor scale and aminor scale that have the same starting note (tonic) are calledparallel keys and are said to be in aparallel relationship.[1][2] For example, G major and G minor have the same tonic (G) but have differentmodes, so G minor is the parallel minor of G major. This relationship is different from that ofrelative keys, a pair of major and minor scales that share the same notes but start on different tonics (e.g.,G major andE minor).
A major scale can be transformed to its parallel minor bylowering the third, sixth, and seventhscale degrees, and a minor scale can be transformed to its parallel major byraising those same scale degrees.
In the early nineteenth century, composers began to experiment with freelyborrowing chords from the parallel key.
Inrock andpopular music, examples of songs that emphasize parallel keys includeGrass Roots' "Temptation Eyes",The Police's "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic",Lipps Inc's "Funkytown",The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood," andDusty Springfield's "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me".[3]
