Understanding Relative Minor and Major Keys: A Guide to Music Theory

When it comes to music theory, understanding relative minor and major keys can seem daunting at first. However, with a simple trick and some visualization techniques, you'll be able to grasp this concept in no time.

To start, let's talk about majors and minors. Remember that a major is like being high up in the army, so to get to a major key, you need to go up. For example, the relative minor of A major is F# minor, while the relative minor of Bb major is G minor. You can also find out the relative minor of a particular major scale by going down three semitones.

On the other hand, finding the relative major of a minor key involves going up three semitones. For instance, the relative major of G minor is B♭major, which shares the same two flats as G minor. Similarly, the relative major of D minor is F major (one flat), while the relative major of E minor is G major (one sharp).

Visualizing this concept on a piano keyboard can be incredibly helpful. For example, starting on A and going up three semitones brings you to C, which has the same key signature as A minor. This means that C major is the relative major of A minor.

In fact, every minor scale has a relative major, much like a cousin! The most important thing to remember is that a relative minor has the same key signature as the major key it's related to.

But how do you actually learn these relationships? Surprisingly, the first step in learning about minor key signatures is to learn the major key signatures. Once you've mastered those, you'll find that the minor key signatures are much easier to understand.

In my book, Essential Music Theory Volume 1: Learn To Read And Appreciate Music, I go into more detail about how to apply this concept to your music theory studies. But for now, remember that relative minor and major keys are like cousins - they share a special relationship that can help you navigate the world of music theory with ease.

By following these simple tips and practicing on a piano keyboard, you'll be well on your way to mastering relative minor and major keys in no time.

4 flats minor key