Tonic parallel
The tonic parallel is the parallel key of the tonic . Typically the parallel key is minor when the tonic is major and vice versa. But there are also special cases in which the minor-tonic parallel is also minor, or the major-tonic parallel is also major.
All forms
| character | Explanation | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Tp | Minor parallel to a major tonic | This parallel is a minor third below the tonic |
| TP | Verdurte minor parallel of a major tonic | This parallel can be found a minor third below the tonic, but not as a minor key as usual, but in major |
| tP | Major parallel to a minor tonic | This parallel is a minor third above the tonic |
| tp | Minor parallel to a minor tonic | This parallel can be found a minor third above the tonic, but not as usual in major, but in minor |
As usual in harmony theory, the small letters stand for minor keys, the large letters for major keys. Basically, the minor parallel is always a minor third below the major key and the major parallel is a minor third above the minor key. A ver-dur-th minor key is that key with the same name, but the other of scale type : for example, C minor → C major
Examples
Tonic: A major
- Tp: minor third down and in minor → F sharp minor
- TP: minor third down and in major → F sharp major
- tP / tp do not exist because the tonic is major.
Tonic: D minor
- Tp / TP do not exist because the tonic is minor.
- tP: minor third up and in major → F major
- tp: minor third upwards and in:
- - Minor → F minor
- - Major (in F minor) → A flat major
Uses
It makes sense to use the tonic parallel to form the classical cadence . Furthermore, the tonic parallel is often used within a major key to create a fallacy , that is, to disappoint the expectation of the tonic.