Relative Minor And Relative Major Scales - Applied Guitar Theory

Few concepts in music theory have provided me with an “aha” moment quite like learning about the relative minor and relative major scales. The understanding of the relationship between the two brings quite a bit of clarity to learning major and minor scale patterns and sets the groundwork for exploring the concept of modes.

What is the Relative Minor Scale?

The relative minor scale is a scale that share the same notes, chords, and, therefore, the same key signature as a major scale. Every major scale has a relative minor scale and every minor scale has a relative major scale.

Finding the Relative Minor Scale

The relative minor scale of any major scale is always the 6th degree of the major scale. To find the relative minor scale, we need to list the notes in the major scale and find the 6th interval of that scale. Let’s take a look at some examples.

Relative Minor of C Major

To find the relative minor of C major, let’s list the notes of the C major scale and the scale degree of each note.

From the table above we can see that the 6th degree of the C major scale is A, which means A minor is the relative minor of C major.

If we follow the whole-step/half-step pattern of the minor scale (W H W W H W), you can see the notes of the A minor scale are the same as the notes for the C major scale.

Looking at a two-octave scale pattern for both C major and A minor on the fretboard helps drive this home.

Both scales share the same seven notes. The only difference is the root note upon which the scale is built.

This applies to pentatonic scales as well.

If we take this a step further, we see that the A minor scale consists of the same chords as the C major scale.

We can also find the relative minor is by using the fretboard itself.

Finding the Relative Minor on the Fretboard

There’s a quick and easy way to find the relative minor of a major scale using the guitar fretboard. Because the relative minor is always the 6th degree of the major scale, their intervalic relationship never changes.

To put this another way, the root note of the relative minor scale is always in the same location relative to the root of the major scale.

On the guitar, you can find the root of the relative minor three frets down from the major root. We can confirm this using the C major pentatonic scale.

Remember, as shown in the example diagrams above, relative scales contain the exact same notes. Therefore, they share the exact same scale pattern. The only difference in the root note upon which the scale is based.

Now that we know how to find the relative minor of a major, let’s take a look at a few more examples of relative minor scales.

Relative Minor of G Major

If we list out the notes of the G major scale and take the 6th degree, we see that the relative minor is E minor.

Relative Minor of A Major

Listing out the notes of the A major, we find the relative minor is F#.

Finding the Relative Major Scale

Similar to taking the 6th degree of the major scale to find the relative minor, we can take the 3rd degree of the minor scale to get the relative major.

Relative Major of B Minor

For this example, we’ll find the relative major of B minor. Let’s start by listing the notes of the B minor scale.

From above, we can see that the third note of the B minor scale is D, which means D is the relative major of B minor.

Finding the Relative Major on the Fretboard

Since we know that the relative minor can be found by taking the major root and counting three frets down, we can find the relative major by taking the minor root and counting up three frets.

Using the B minor pentatonic scale, we can confirm.

Relative Scales and Tonal Center

So if these scales share the same notes, what’s the difference between playing in the key of C major and the key of A minor? The difference is the tonal center, or the tone which the music is centered around.

You can use the exact same chords, scales etc. for both keys, but the tonal center will determine the key.

If the music is centered around a C major chord progression or melody, you would consider the key to be C major. Conversely, if the music is centered around an A minor chord progression or melody, the key would be A minor.

Wrap Up

To summarize, the relative major/minor are scales contain the same notes and chords and thereby share the same key signature. The relative minor is the 6th degree of the major scale and the relative major is the 3rd degree of the natural minor scale.

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