Which term denotes minor and major keys with the same letter names (for example C major and c minor)?

Which term denotes minor and major keys with the same letter names (for example C major and c minor)?

• A. Ostinato
• B. Piano
• C. Polytonality
• D. Parallel Major/Minor

Answer: (D)

Parallel major and minor keys share the same tonic note, so they use the same letter name but different modes. That means C major and C minor both start on C, even though their scales and harmonies differ—C major has no sharps or flats, while C minor has a minor third and a different key signature. The term highlights that the pitch center is identical while the scale quality changes. This differs from relative major/minor pairs, which share the same key signature but have different tonics. The other terms refer to other ideas: an ostinato is a repeating pattern, piano is an instrument, and polytonality is using more than one key at once.

Parallel major and minor keys share the same tonic note, so they use the same letter name but different modes. That means C major and C minor both start on C, even though their scales and harmonies differ—C major has no sharps or flats, while C minor has a minor third and a different key signature. The term highlights that the pitch center is identical while the scale quality changes. This differs from relative major/minor pairs, which share the same key signature but have different tonics. The other terms refer to other ideas: an ostinato is a repeating pattern, piano is an instrument, and polytonality is using more than one key at once.