Relative major and minor

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Tonal centres and signatures

Relative major and natural minor share a signature but have different tonal centres. C major and A natural minor can use the same pitch collection while directing phrases and harmonies toward different places of rest.

The sixth degree of a major scale identifies its relative natural minor. Actual minor-key music may alter degrees six and seven, so a shared signature does not predict every note. Examine phrase endings and harmonic direction as well as the collection of pitches.

Example

G major and its relative E minor share F-sharp in their signature.

Try it

On which note does the relative natural minor of F major begin?

Related topics

References

Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom

Subject-expert review pending.