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MAJ-min relationship

MEKer

MEKer

Supporting member
May 30, 2006
6,081
3,586
#1
Little question from a dummy in the intricacies of music theory:

Does every major chord have a naturally occuring minor that automatically acts contrapuntally or harmonically? I saw something about an F Maj chord having a D# minor scale in that relationship. Confused me in that the D# is just the subtonic of F minor. Maybe an approach note, but D# minor scale to compliment F Maj?

Is there a rule of thumb a bassist can safely use to play contrapuntally or harmonically (much less worrying about the mode you need to use) on any major chord?
Ugh--whew-----:(
 
#2
You're thinking of what is called the relative minor of a major key. The relative minor is the minor scale that shares a common key signature with the major scale. In the case of F major, it's definitely not going to be a D# minor, but rather D minor - both keys have a key signature of one flat. You can think of it by measuring down a minor third from the original major key. For example. if you're in the key of B, measuring a minor third down is a G#, and that's going to be the relative minor of B major.
 
#3
Yes! Relative minor. Whew-thank you. DO you get much clash if played at the same time or is it safer to stick on in a pentatonic form for the accompanying minor???
 
#4
Since the relative minor scale has exactly the same notes as the major (just starting on a different note as the root), they're effectively identical. If you're interested in counterpoint or harmony, you'd be better off trying to use the same scale as the other instrument and just sticking to a higher or lower interval, rather than trying to harmonize using a different scale.

If I play an ascending line in F, say F-G-A-C-Bb, you might choose to play a third above me, using A-Bb-C-E-D. That might be a bit square and predictable for most situations, but it's really effective and a good starting point for exploring other possibilities.
 
#8
Just to stir the pot a little. Major and minor keys can be related by key signatures. In the case noted here the key sig of one flat relates F major and D minor. There is also a parallel minor to every major... and the parallel comes from the note names being (pretty much) the same, but the key sig different. In other words, F major and F minor are parallel because the scales start on the same note, but they have different key sigs.

F major (one flat) = F G A Bb C D E F

F minor (four flats) = F G Ab Bb C D E F, F Eb Db C Bb Ab G F
note, this is the melodic form of the scale and the 6th and 7th step are sharped away from the key sig when the notes go up, but go back to the key sig going down the scale. (fun, huh?)
 

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