A#m or Dbm

• Feb 1, 2017 - 07:29

What is the relative minor scale of C# major scale?
Is it called as A#m or Dbm?
Similarly,
What is the relative minor scale of Db major scale?
Is it called as A#m or Dbm?

Eventhough C# and Db are enharmonic scales, I just wanted to know how the naming should be?


Comments

FWIW, major/minor keys sharing the same root note (as opposed to sharing the same key signature) are called *parallel* keys. So Db minor is the parallel minor of Db major.

To my “not-so music-theory” way of thinking, “A-sharp is quite-obviously not D-flat!”

Whereas, I would understand that “C-sharp and D-flat are the same thing.”

(However, I would be somewhat annoyed that you, the composer, would be requiring me to “figure out” what you actually intended for me to do!   Surely, you can contrive to make such things easier for me ...?)

Therefore, why not just try to clear the air?   How about just calling it “C-sharp ... minor?”   I should fairly-readily be able to figure out that you must be referring to the relative minor of that key, and therefore be reasonably certain that I understand what you intend for me to play.   (However, if you could somehow manage to be even more clear ... that would sure be nice.)

In reply to by mrobinson

keys.png
Yes A# is not Db...it is Bb..
I think it would be clear now by posting this picture..

From the picture,
How do you call the relative minor of C# major key -----A# or Bb or both are acceptable ways of calling?

Similarly,
How do you call the relative minor of Db major key -----A# or Bb or both are acceptable ways of calling?

Thanks.

In reply to by karthiks25

C# Major and Db Major are the same pitch wise, but differ in whether they are written using sharps or flats. Same for A# minor and Bb minor (same pitches, spelled differently). I'd call the ones sharing the same key signature, the same amount of sharps or flats, using the same spelling, the pairs here, so C# Major /A# minor and Db Major / Bb minor
I'm not into music theory, but only that seems logical to me

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