A minor
A minor is a key of the tonal family minor, which is built on the root note a. The key of A minor is written without accidentals in musical notation. The corresponding scale and the fundamental chord of this key (the tonic a-c-e) are also designated with the word a minor.
On the left the notation of A minor (no accidentals), on the right the basic chord on a piano.
As a parallel key to C major and due to the lack of accidentals, this key is a very frequently used key in all eras. It is often described as bright-sounding, gentle, noble (see key signature). It was also sometimes associated with "pious femininity". A minor was Robert Schumann's favourite key and occupies a key character in his works.
On the piano, A minor is the only minor key that uses white keys. This is the reason why piano courses often start with A minor (or the parallel key of C major). In early techno music, A minor was the most represented key for this very reason.
Key classification
| Keys and their accidentals | |||||||||||||||
| Portent: | 7 ♭ | 6 ♭ | 5 ♭ | 4 ♭ | 3 ♭ | 2 ♭ | 1 ♭ | 0 ♭/♯ | 1 ♯ | 2 ♯ | 3 ♯ | 4 ♯ | 5 ♯ | 6 ♯ | 7 ♯ |
| Major keys: | Ces | Ges | Des | As | It | B | F | C | G | D | A | E | H | F# | C sharp |
| Minor keys: | as | it | b | f | c | g | d | a | e | h | F# | cis | gis | dis | ais |
Questions and Answers
Q: What is a minor?
A: A minor is a minor scale based on A, which is made up of the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and A.
Q: What does the harmonic minor scale do?
A: The harmonic minor scale raises the G to G♯.
Q: What is the key signature of A minor?
A: The key signature of A minor has no sharps or flats.
Q: What is the relative major of A minor?
A: The relative major of A minor is C major.
Q: What is the parallel major of A minor?
A: The parallel major of A minor is A major.
Q: Can a scale in both A minor and C major be played on a piano or other keyboard instrument using only the white keys?
A: Yes, a scale in both A minor and C major can be played on a piano or other keyboard instrument using only the white keys.
Q: When are key signatures cancelled in modern popular music?
A: In modern popular music, key signatures are only cancelled when C major or A minor replace another key if the new key signature has fewer sharps or flats.
