Minor keys and the relative minor

Change just a few notes and the same tune can sound darker or sadder. That is the effect of a minor key.

Practise this lesson free (6 questions)

The natural minor scale

The A natural minor scale uses only white keys: A B C D E F G A.
Its pattern of steps is T S T T S T T.
The big difference from major is the 3rd note: in a minor scale it is a semitone lower than in the major scale with the same tonic. For example, C major has E, but C minor has E flat.

Relative keys

A minor uses the same notes as C major, so they share a key signature (no sharps or flats). A minor is the relative minor of C major.
To find the relative minor of a major key, go to the 6th note of the major scale (or count down 3 semitones from the tonic).
Major keyRelative minorKey signature
C majorA minornone
G majorE minor1 sharp
F majorD minor1 flat
D majorB minor2 sharps

Major and minor in music

Music in a minor key is often described as sad, dark or serious; music in a major key is often described as bright or happy. These are tendencies, not rules: tempo, dynamics and rhythm matter too.
The harmonic minor scale raises the 7th note by a semitone. In A minor this gives G sharp, which pulls strongly up to the tonic A.
Tonality is the word for whether music is major, minor, or neither.
Worked example

What is the relative minor of G major, and which sharp does it have?

  1. G major scale: G A B C D E F# G.
  2. The 6th note is E, so the relative minor is E minor.
  3. Relative keys share a key signature, so E minor has one sharp: F sharp.

Answer: E minor, with one sharp (F sharp).

Key idea

Natural minor pattern: T S T T S T T. The 3rd note is a semitone lower than in the major. The relative minor starts on the 6th note of the major scale and shares its key signature: C major and A minor; G major and E minor; F major and D minor.

Key words
Relative minor
The minor key that shares a key signature with a major key, starting on its 6th note, such as A minor and C major.
Semitone
The smallest step on a keyboard, from one key to the very next.
Key signature
The sharps or flats written after the clef, showing the key of the music.
Tonic
The first note of a scale: the home note of a key.
Tempo
The speed of the music.
Dynamics
How loud or quiet music is.

All KS3 Music key terms and definitions →

Common mistakes
Quick check

Try two quick questions

See if it has sunk in. Answers are marked straight away.

Extra practice

2 more questions

Try each one, then tap to check.

  1. What is the relative minor of G major?

    1. G minor
    2. B minor
    3. A minor
    4. E minor
    Show the answer

    Answer: E minor

    E is the 6th note of G major.

  2. What is the relative minor of D major?

    1. D minor
    2. F sharp minor
    3. E minor
    4. B minor
    Show the answer

    Answer: B minor

    The 6th note of D major is B.

Check you have got it

Answer 6 quick questions with instant marking. If you get one wrong, GCSE-ready shows you why and gives you another go. It is free, and you do not need an account.

Practise this lesson free (6 questions)All KS3 Music lessons

Video for this lesson coming soon. Subscribe on YouTube

Sources and references

Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.