Chapter 4
Using the Rectangle of Fifths - to find the tonic position of a relative minor key, add three to the tonic keyboard position value of its major key.
Both the major key and its relative minor share the same key signature.
What does this mean?
In musical terms, a relative minor is a minor key that shares the same key signature as its corresponding major key. We will cover Minor Scales in more detail in a later lesson.
For example, A minor is the relative minor of C major because both keys have no sharps or flats. They use the same notes but start from different root notes: the major key starts on a major note, and the relative minor starts three half steps down from that note.
The purpose of a relative minor key is to provide a contrasting mood or emotion within a piece of music while using the same set of notes as its relative major key. This allows composers to create variety and depth in their compositions, seamlessly transitioning between major and minor tones to evoke different feelings and add complexity to the music.