What are relative keys?
Every major key has a relative minor, and every minor key has a relative major. They use exactly the same notes and the same key signature, but they feel different because each treats a different note as home. C major and A minor are the classic pair: neither has any sharps or flats, but C major rests on C and A minor rests on A.
How to find a relative key
- Relative minor: from the major tonic, go down three half steps (or take the 6th note of the major scale). C major → A minor. G major → E minor.
- Relative major: from the minor tonic, go up three half steps (or take the 3rd note of the minor scale). A minor → C major. D minor → F major.
Relative versus parallel
Parallel keys share a tonic and differ in their notes: C major has three more natural notes than C minor, which has three flats. Relative keys share their notes and differ in their tonic. Moving to the parallel minor is a strong change of mood, while moving to the relative minor keeps the same notes but shifts the centre.
Neighbouring keys
The keys a fifth above (dominant) and a fifth below (subdominant) your key differ by only one sharp or flat. Together with the relative key, they are the "closely related" keys that songs most often modulate to. Look at the pattern on the key signature chart and circle of fifths.
Once you know the key, see its notes on the scales library, or use the chords to key finder to work out the key of a song.
Frequently asked questions
What is a relative key?
A relative key is the major and minor key that share the same key signature and the same seven notes. C major and A minor both have no sharps or flats, so they are relatives.
How do I find the relative minor of a major key?
Go down three half steps from the major key's tonic, or use the sixth note of the major scale. The relative minor of C major is A minor, and of G major is E minor.
How do I find the relative major of a minor key?
Go up three half steps from the minor tonic, or use the third note of the minor scale. The relative major of A minor is C, and of D minor is F.
What is the difference between relative and parallel keys?
Relative keys share the same notes but have different tonics (C major and A minor). Parallel keys share the same tonic but have different notes (C major and C minor).
Why are the dominant and subdominant keys "closely related"?
The key a fifth above (dominant) or below (subdominant) differs from the original by only one sharp or flat, so songs often modulate to them with very little change in the notes.