Relative key facts for kids
When a piece of music is in a major key, the relative minor means the minor key which has the same key signature. It can be found by taking the sixth note of the first scale and playing a minor scale starting on that note. For example: in C major the sixth note is an A. Therefore, A minor is the relative minor of C major (C major and A minor share the same key signature: no sharps or flats). C major is called the relative major of A minor.
A complete list of relative minor/major pairs in order of the circle of fifths is:
| Key signature | Major key | Minor key |
|---|---|---|
B , E, A, D, G, C, F |
C flat major | A flat minor |
| B, E, A, D, G, C |
G flat major | E flat minor |
| B, E, A, D, G |
D flat major | B flat minor |
| B, E, A, D |
A flat major | F minor |
| B, E, A |
E flat major | C minor |
| B, E |
B flat major | G minor |
| B |
F major | D minor |
| C major | A minor | |
F |
G major | E minor |
| F, C |
D major | B minor |
| F, C, G |
A major | F sharp minor |
| F, C, G, D |
E major | C sharp minor |
| F, C, G, D, A |
B major | G sharp minor |
| F, C, G, D, A, E |
F sharp major | D sharp minor |
| F, C, G, D, A, E, B |
C sharp major | A sharp minor |
Related pages
Images for kids
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Relative tonic chords on C and A ().
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Chromatic modulation in Bach's Du grosser Schmerzensmann, BWV 300, m. 5-6 ( with half cadence, with PAC) transitions from FM to its relative minor dm through the inflection of C♮ to C♯ between the second and third chords. Note that this modulation does not require a change of key signature.
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Relative major and minor scales on C and A with shared notes connected by lines.
See also
In Spanish: Tonalidad relativa para niños
