Relative Minor Keys
So far, everything has been discussed in terms of major keys. However, there is another common type of key called a minor key. Minor keys are derived from minor scales. There are various different kinds of minor scales, each based on a different pattern of tones and semitones. The type of minor scale which is used to determine key signatures for minor keys is called the natural minor scale.
For every major scale there is a relative minor scale which is based upon the 6th note of the major scale. This means that if you sing the C major scale starting and finishing on A (A B C D E F G A) instead of C, it becomes the A natural minor scale.
Therefore, these two scales contain exactly the same notes, but in a different order. Listen to the following example to hear the sound of the natural minor scale. Minor keys are often described as having a "sadder" sound than major keys. The chart following this example shows the relative minor of all twelve major keys.
Both the major and the relative minor share the same key signature, as shown in the following diagram.
Scarborough Fair is an example of a song in a minor key. Because there is no key signature written at the start of the song, it can be seen that the song is in either C major or A minor. It is usually possible to tell which of two possible keys (major or relative minor) a song is in by looking at the note on which the melody ends, and often the starting note as well.
This melody begins and ends on the note A, so this tells us that the key is A minor. Another indication is the chords which accompany the melody. The first and last chord symbol here is Am which indicates an A minor chord. Notice also the use of the note F sharp (F#) in this song.
Another interesting feature of this melody is the use of the tie, which is a curved line connecting two notes of the same pitch. A tie indicates that you sing the first note and hold it for the value of the second note as well. Ties are discussed further in the following lesson.
2."Tell her to make me a cambric shirt,"
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
"Without any seam or needlework,
For once she was a true love of mine."
3."Tell her to wash it in yonder well,"
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme;
"Where never spring water nor rain ever fell,
For once she was a true love of mine."
4."Now he has asked me questions three,"
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme;
"I hope he will answer as many for me,
For once he was a true love of mine."
5."Tell him to find me an acre of land,"
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme;
"Betwixt the salt water and the sea sand,
For once he was a true love of mine."
You will notice that the previous version of Scarborough Fair was sung by a female singer. This exercise however, is sung by a male and is now in the key of C minor, as can be seen from the key signature (3 flats). A different key was chosen because it was easier for our male singer to sing the song in this key.
As mentioned earlier, everybody has a different voice range, so many people will prefer to sing any given song in one key while many others will prefer to sing in a different key.
The key chosen depends on the range of notes used in that particular melody and whether they feel comfortable for the singer. Often (e.g., in a choir) many different singers, both male and female will sing a song in the same key in unison or harmony in different octaves.
The vocal exercises in this book are sung by male and female voices in the same key, but in different octaves. However, there are times when changing the octave moves the melody too far up or down for an individual’s range.
In this situation, finding a new key in between the two octaves is usually the solution. Changing the key of a piece of music is called transposing or transposition. This subject is dealt with in Lesson 9.
