In music, a parallel chord (relative) is an auxiliary chord derived from one of the primary triads and sharing its function: subdominant, dominant and tonic and subdominant parallel, dominant parallel, and tonic parallel.
For example the major tonic and tonic parallel and minor tonic and tonic parallel.
| Major | Minor | ||||
| Parallel | Note letter in C | US name | Parallel | Note letter in C | US name |
| Tp | A minor | Submediant | tP | Eb major | Mediant |
| Sp | D minor | Supertonic | sP | Ab major | Submediant |
| Dp | E minor | Mediant | dP | Bb major | Subtonic |
- The tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords, in root position, each followed by its parallel. The parallel is formed by raising the fifth a whole tone.
- The minor tonic, subdominant, dominant, and their parallels, created by lowering the fifth (German)/root (US) a whole tone.
Read more about this topic: Parallel Key
Famous quotes containing the words parallel and/or chord:
“The beginnings of altruism can be seen in children as early as the age of two. How then can we be so concerned that they count by the age of three, read by four, and walk with their hands across the overhead parallel bars by five, and not be concerned that they act with kindness to others?”
—Neil Kurshan (20th century)
“Give me the keys. I feel for the common chord again,
Sliding by semi-tones till I sink to a minor,—yes,
And I blunt it into a ninth, and I stand on alien ground,
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Which, hark, I have dared and done, for my resting-place is found,
The C Major of this life: so, now I will try to sleep.”
—Robert Browning (1812–1889)