Parallel minor is defined as the minor key that shares which characteristic with its major counterpart?

• A. It shares the same key signature as its relative major
• B. It shares the same tonic and same key signature
• C. It shares the same tonic but a different key signature
• D. It shares the same tonic and same key signature

Answer: (D)

Parallel minor uses the same starting pitch as the major key, but switches to a minor scale that changes the key signature. In other words, the same tonic note is kept, while the set of accidentals (the key signature) becomes different to reflect the minor mode. For example, C major and C minor share the tonic C, but C minor has a different key signature (three flats: Bb, Eb, Ab). That makes the essential characteristic: the same tonic with a different key signature.