Relative major keys

Each minor key is associated with a relative Major key. Major keys and their relative minor keys have exactly the same key signatures.


The relative Major key starts a minor third (third containing 3 half steps (semitones ) above its relative minor key. Both have the same key signature.

How to find the relative Major key from a minor key?

Tonic (first degree of the scale) of the relative Major key is a minor third above the tonic of his relative minor key. Don't forget that a minor third is contains 3 half steps (semitones ).

Examples, how to find the relative Major key from a minor key?

Finding the relative Major of G minor key

Here we will try to find the relative minor key of G minor key:



Tonic of the relative Major key is a minor third above the tonic of G minor key.
* Tonic of G minor key is : G
* a minor third added to G is: B flat
-> so the relative Major key of G minor key is B flat Major key

Finding the relative minor key of F minor key

Here we will try to find the relative Major key of F minor key:



Tonic of the relative Major key is a minor third above the tonic of F minor key.
* Tonic of F minor is : F
* a minor third added to F is: A flat
-> so the relative Major key of F minor key is A flat Major scale