Relative minor

The relative minor is also described as the natural minor because it has the same key signature of it's related major. For example, C major and A minor share the same key signature.

Finding the relative major to a major can be done in two ways but each results in the same letter name:

Find the sixth degree of the major scale and that will be the tonic of the related minor.

or

Find the note three semitones below the first degree of the major scale and that will be the tonic of the related minor.

Every major key has a corresponding minor key called the relative minor. The relative minor is a complimentary interval. Complimentary intervals are intervals which are of the same letter name but in a different direction (ascending or descending). The idea of complimentary intervals works for other notes too. e.g. Moving up a 2nd from E up to F# is the same as moving down a minor 7th (from E down to F#). All such equations add up to 9.

The relative minor is the Aeolian mode which is a major sixth above the root note. The relative minor contains all the same notes as the major key. e.g. C major and A minor have all the same notes. If a song is based around C major it is called C major but if it is based around A minor it is called A minor.

The complimentary intervals that fit this pattern are: