Definition of closely related keys
Any key will have 5 closely-related keys. A closely-related key is a key that differs from a given key by at most one sharp or one flat.
Closely related keys are the most commonly used for modulations.
How to find closely related keys?
There are 3 methods to find closely related keys of a given key:
#1 Subtracting and adding one accidental
#2 With the circle of fifths
#3 With scale degrees
Finding closely related keys by subtracting and adding one accidental
Here we will learn how to find closely related keys by subtracting and adding one accidental:
For this example, we will try to find all 5 closely related keys of B flat Major
First of all you must find the key signature of B flat Major, if you have read the article about key signature, you already know that B flat Major has 2 flats as key signature.
B flat Major scale:
Step #1: Finding the key signature of B flat Major:
Step #2: Subtracting and adding one accidental:
You can add and subtract one accidental or add a perfect fifth and subtract a perfect fifth, it is the same)
Step #3: Find the relative minor keys:
Conclusion:
Closely related keys of B flat Major are:
* F Major
* E flat Major
* D minor
* G minor
* C minor
Another example with C Major:
Closely related keys of C Major are:
* G Major
* F Major
* E minor
* A minor
* D minor
Finding closely related keys with the circle of fifths
You can find the closely related keys with the circle of fifths:
Example with B flat Major:
Closely related keys of B flat Major are neighbors keys on circle of fifths.
Conclusion:
Closely related keys of B flat Major are:
* F Major
* E flat Major
* D minor
* G minor
* C minor
Finding closely related keys with scale degrees
You can find the closely related keys with scale degrees.
On a Major scale, some degrees of the scales refers to all closely related keys of the given key:
degree I: main Major key
degree II: closely related minor key
degree III: closely related minor key
degree IV: closely related Major key
degree V: closely related Major key
degree VI: closely related minor key
Example with C Major key
degree I: C (main Major key)
degree II: D (closely related minor key)
degree III: E (closely related minor key)
degree IV: F (closely related Major key)
degree V: G (closely related Major key)
degree VI: A (closely related minor key)
Another example with F Major:
Complete list of closely related keys
C Major : F Major, G Major, D minor, A minor, E minor
G Major : C Major, D Major, A minor, E minor, B minor
D Major : G Major, A Major, E minor, B minor, F sharp minor
A Major : D Major, E Major, B minor, F sharp minor, C sharp minor
E Major : A Major, B Major, F sharp minor, C sharp minor, G sharp minor
C flat Major : G flat Major, F flat Major, E flat minor, A flat minor, D flat minor
B Major : E Major, F sharp Major, C sharp minor, G sharp minor, D sharp minor
G flat Major : D flat Major, C flat Major, B flat minor, E flat minor, A flat minor
F sharp Major : C sharp Major, B Major, A sharp minor, D sharp minor, G sharp minor
D flat Major : A flat Major, G flat Major, F minor, B flat minor, E flat minor
C sharp Major : G sharp Major, F sharp Major, E sharp minor, A sharp minor, D sharp minor
A flat Major : E flat Major, D flat Major, C minor, F minor, B flat minor
E flat Major : B flat Major, A flat Major, G minor, C minor, F minor
B flat Major : F Major, E flat Major, D minor, G minor, C minor
F Major : C Major, B flat Major, G minor, D minor, A minor
A minor : D minor, E minor, F Major, C Major, G Major
E minor : A minor, B minor, C Major, G Major, D Major
B minor : E minor, F sharp minor, G Major, D Major, A Major
F sharp minor : B minor, C sharp minor, D Major, A Major, E Major
C sharp minor : F sharp minor, G sharp minor, A Major, E Major, B Major
G sharp minor : C sharp minor, D sharp minor, E Major, B Major, F sharp Major
A flat minor : E flat minor, D flat minor, G flat Major, C flat Major, F flat Major
D sharp minor : G sharp minor, A sharp minor, C sharp Major, F sharp Major, B Major
E flat minor : A flat minor, B flat minor, D flat Major, G flat Major, C flat Major
A sharp minor : D sharp minor, E sharp minor, F sharp Major, C sharp Major, G sharp Major
B flat minor : E flat minor, F minor, A flat Major, D flat Major, G flat Major
F minor : B flat minor, C minor, E flat Major, A flat Major, D flat Major
C minor : F minor, G minor, B flat Major, E flat Major, A flat Major
G minor : C minor, D minor, F Major, B flat Major, E flat Major
D minor : G minor, A minor, C Major, F Major, B flat Major
