Minor Scales
Senior 2 · Music
Minor Scales
Lesson 3 of 4
24 min
A key signature of one sharp could mean G major, but it could also mean E minor. Every key signature is shared by one major key and one minor key. Knowing these pairs, and how all the keys are related to each other, lets you name the key of any piece quickly and helps you move smoothly between keys when you compose.
Two keys that share the same key signature are called relative keys. The relative minor starts on the 6th degree (lah) of the major scale. A second way to find it is to count down three semitones from the major tonic.
Worked example
Find the relative minor of F major. F major is F G A B♭ C D E F, and its 6th degree is D. Check by counting down three semitones from F: E, E♭, D. The relative minor of F major is D minor, and both keys have one flat, B♭.
To go the other way, from a minor key to its relative major, count up three semitones, or take the 3rd degree of the minor scale. The relative major of E minor is G major.
A minor key uses the key signature of its relative major:
| Key signature | Major key | Relative minor |
|---|---|---|
| none | C major | A minor |
| 1 sharp | G major | E minor |
| 2 sharps | D major | B minor |
| 3 sharps | A major | F♯ minor |
| 4 sharps | E major | C♯ minor |
| 5 sharps | B major | G♯ minor |
| 6 sharps | F♯ major | D♯ minor |
| 7 sharps | C♯ major | A♯ minor |
| 1 flat | F major | D minor |
| 2 flats | B♭ major | G minor |
| 3 flats | E♭ major | C minor |
| 4 flats | A♭ major | F minor |
| 5 flats | D♭ major | B♭ minor |
| 6 flats | G♭ major | E♭ minor |
| 7 flats | C♭ major | A♭ minor |
The raised 7th of the harmonic and melodic minor is never part of the key signature; it is always written as an accidental. That gives you a test for telling two relative keys apart.
Worked example
major or minor? A melody has one sharp in its key signature, so it is in G major or E minor. It ends on E, and D♯ appears several times as an accidental. D♯ is the raised 7th of E minor, so the melody is in E minor. If it ended on G and had no D♯, it would be in G major.
A fifth is the distance from a note to the note five letter names above it, counting both ends: C D E F G, so C up to G is a fifth (seven semitones). If you arrange the twelve major keys so that each is a fifth above the one before, they form a circle:
Worked example
Use the circle to find the key signature and relative minor of E♭ major. E♭ is three steps anticlockwise from C, so it has three flats: B♭, E♭ and A♭. The minor key in the same segment is C minor.
Tip
Down three semitones, or up to lah. From a major tonic, count down three semitones to reach its relative minor. On the circle of fifths, clockwise adds sharps and anticlockwise adds flats, and each minor key sits inside its relative major.
Try each question first, then check the worked solution underneath.
What is the relative minor of D major?
Solution: B minor. D major is D E F♯ G A B C♯ D, and its 6th degree is B. Counting down three semitones from D (C♯, C, B) also gives B.
What is the relative major of C minor?
Solution: E♭ major. Three semitones above C is E♭, and both keys have three flats.
Write the key signature of F♯ minor.
Solution: Three sharps: F♯, C♯ and G♯, the same as its relative major, A major.
A piece has one flat in its key signature, often uses C♯, and ends on D. Which key is it in?
Solution: D minor. One flat means F major or D minor; C♯ is the raised 7th of D minor, and the piece ends on D.
On the circle of fifths, which key is one step clockwise from A major, and how many sharps does it have?
Solution: E major, with four sharps: one more than A major's three.
Remember
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