55 / 18210 · Module 3 — Minor Scales, Relative Keys, and Why Minor Harmony Behaves Differently← prev⊞ allnext →
3.2Relative minor is degree 6 of the major scale
In C major:
C D E F G A B
A is degree:
6
So the relative minor of C major is A minor.
In G major:
G A B C D E F♯
degree 6 = E
Therefore:
G major ↔ E minor
In D major:
D E F♯ G A B C♯
degree 6 = B
So:
D major ↔ B minor
This gives:
| Major | Relative minor |
|---|---|
| C | Am |
| G | Em |
| D | Bm |
| A | F♯m |
| E | C♯m |
| F | Dm |
| B♭ | Gm |
| E♭ | Cm |
This is exactly why your original chord chart had major and minor chords paired together around the outside.