What is the relative major key of E minor?

Study for the ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory Test. Use detailed flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations, to ace your exam. Prepare with confidence!

Multiple Choice

What is the relative major key of E minor?

Explanation:
The key of E minor has a relative major key, which is found by determining the key that is a minor third above E minor. The relative major key shares the same key signature as the minor key; therefore, it's the major key that corresponds to the tonic of the minor key. In this case, to find the relative major, you can either count up three semitones from E (E to F, F# to G, G# to A) or recognize that the relative major of E minor is G major. Both G major and E minor have one sharp in their key signatures, which is F#. This means G major is the correct answer as it shares the same group of notes, allowing it to function harmonically as the tonic of the relative major while E minor stands as its dominant subordinate key.

The key of E minor has a relative major key, which is found by determining the key that is a minor third above E minor. The relative major key shares the same key signature as the minor key; therefore, it's the major key that corresponds to the tonic of the minor key.

In this case, to find the relative major, you can either count up three semitones from E (E to F, F# to G, G# to A) or recognize that the relative major of E minor is G major. Both G major and E minor have one sharp in their key signatures, which is F#.

This means G major is the correct answer as it shares the same group of notes, allowing it to function harmonically as the tonic of the relative major while E minor stands as its dominant subordinate key.

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