This episode of the game was inspired by my good friend Rodney. He posted it as a comment on this lesson. So I decided to syndicate it to everyone!

I have modified some stuff below to transform it into a full lesson. Thanks Rodney! :)

——

What key am I in if i play…

D diminished
G minor
B flat major

Possible answers:

(a) C Minor
(b) E flat Major
(c) Both of the above

(here’s a hint… know the pattern.)

.
..
…
….
…..
……
…….
……..
………
……….
………..
…………
………….
…………..
……………
…………….
……………..
………………
……………….
………………..
…………………
………………….
…………………..
……………………
…………………….
……………………..
………………………
……………………….
………………………..
…………………………
………………………….
………………………….. Got it???
………………………….
…………………………
………………………..
……………………….
………………………
……………………..
…………………….
……………………
…………………..
………………….
…………………
………………..
……………….
………………
……………..
…………….
……………
…………..
………….
…………
………..
……….
………
……..
…….
……
…..
….
…
..
.

The answer is BOTH!

See, because major and minor scales overlap at the sixth tone; chords also overlap. For example, if you play the “C Major” scale all the way up the piano and listen closely, you may start to hear an “A minor” scale… because it is!

Simply put, if you play the “C major” scale from “A” to “A,” you’re playing an “A minor” scale. This is the aeolian mode.

This pattern is true for any major scale. To create the minor scale that goes with that major scale, start at the 6th tone and play the same exact notes of that major scale beginning and ending on the sixth tone! Simple!

C major (two octaves):
C D E F G [A B C D E F G A] B C

A minor (two octaves)
A B [C D E F G A B C] D E F G A

I have used brackets [ ] intentionally. Notice the “A minor” scale is clearly in the “C major” scale and the “C major” scale is clearly in the “A minor” scale.
That’s because they have a relative major / relative minor relationship. They share the same number of sharps and flats (0 in this case as C major doesn’t have any sharps or flats).

The chords happen to go along as well.

Now, let’s go to the question at hand which deals with Eb major and C minor…

Compare the chords of Eb major with the chords of C minor:

Eb major:

1 - Eb maj
2 - F min
3 - G min
4 - Ab maj
5 - Bb maj
6 - C min
7 - D dim

C minor:

1 - C min
2 - D dim
3 - Eb maj
4 - F min
5 - G min
6 - Ab maj
7 - Bb maj

Same chords! Just different starting and ending points! It’s almost like taking a magnifying glass and just zeroing in on the 6th tone as the starting point and moving up until you get back to that 6th tone. The substance doesn’t change… just the end points.

So, in future “What key am I in” games, if you’re ever faced with major and minor answers, make sure the minor key choice isn’t the relative minor of the correct major key because if it is, it could also be the answer! (Remember, the relative minor is on the 6th tone of the major key in question).

Does this make sense? Post your comments to let me know!

Popularity: 11% [?]

Welcome back! It looks like you're a regular! Thanks for your support and keep coming! (Getting updates yet?)