Relative Major & Minor Key Signatures

Major and Minor Key Signatures

• Each major key has a corresponding minor key, known as its relative minor.
• Relative minor keys are located a minor third below their major counterparts.

Key Signatures and Relative Minors

• C Major (no sharps or flats) → A Minor
• G Major (1 sharp) → E Minor
• D Major (2 sharps) → B Minor
• A Major (3 sharps) → F# Minor
• E Major (4 sharps) → C# Minor
• B Major (5 sharps) → G# Minor
• F# Major (6 sharps) → D# Minor
• C# Major (7 sharps) → A# Minor

Flat Key Signatures

• F Major (1 flat) → D Minor
• B♭ Major (2 flats) → G Minor
• E♭ Major (3 flats) → C Minor
• A♭ Major (4 flats) → F Minor
• D♭ Major (5 flats) → B♭ Minor
• G♭ Major (6 flats) → E♭ Minor
• C♭ Major (7 flats) → A♭ Minor

Summary of Sharp and Flat Relationships

• Sharp keys are identified by increasing the number of sharps from C Major to C# Major.
• Flat keys increase in flats starting from F Major to C♭ Major.
• This structure aids in quickly identifying relationships between major and minor keys.