Which statement about parallel major and minor scales is true?

Which statement about parallel major and minor scales is true?

• A. They have different starting notes
• B. They use different key signatures
• C. They are related by inversion
• D. They begin and end on the same tonic pitch

Answer: (D)

Parallel major and minor scales share the same tonic pitch, so they both begin on the same note and resolve to that same pitch an octave higher. For example, C major and C minor both start on C and end on C. The difference between them lies in the sequence of whole and half steps, which changes the other notes and the overall mood. The idea that they begin on different notes isn’t correct, and inversion isn’t the relationship between parallel major and minor.

Parallel major and minor scales share the same tonic pitch, so they both begin on the same note and resolve to that same pitch an octave higher. For example, C major and C minor both start on C and end on C. The difference between them lies in the sequence of whole and half steps, which changes the other notes and the overall mood. The idea that they begin on different notes isn’t correct, and inversion isn’t the relationship between parallel major and minor.