Relative minor keys

Learn all about relative minor keys and learn how to find all relative minor keys from all major keys. Learn all relative minor keys list.

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


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

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

There are two methods to find the relative minor key from a Major key, I will explain those two methods:


Method #1:

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


Method #2:

Tonic (first degree of the scale) of the relative minor key is the degree VI of his relative Major key.

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

Finding the relative minor key of C major key

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



Method #1:

Tonic of the relative minor key is a minor third below the tonic of C major key.
* Tonic of C major is : C
* a minor third subtracted from C is: A
-> so the relative minor key of C major key is A minor key


Method #2:

Tonic of the relative minor key is the degree VI of his relative C major key, you must count:
I: C
II: D
II: E
IV: F
V: G
VI: A
-> so the relative minor key of C major key is A minor key

And don't forget that there are several kinds of minor keys:

A natural minor scale


A harmonic minor scale


A ascending melodic minor scale


A descending melodic minor scale

Finding the relative minor key of A flat major key

Here we will try to find the relative minor key of A flat major key:



Method #1:

Tonic of the relative minor key is a minor third below the tonic of A flat major key.
* Tonic of A flat major is : A flat
* a minor third subtracted from A flat is: F
-> so the relative minor key of A flat major key is F minor key


Method #2:

Tonic of the relative minor key is the degree VI of his relative A flat major key, you must count:
I: A♭
II: B♭
II: C
IV: D♭
V: E♭
VI: F
-> so the relative minor key of A flat major key is F minor key

And don't forget that there are several kinds of minor keys:

F natural minor scale


F harmonic minor scale


F ascending melodic minor scale


F descending melodic minor scale