Which term describes the relationship of major and minor keys sharing the same signature?

Which term describes the relationship of major and minor keys sharing the same signature?

• A. Rallentando
• B. Scherzando
• C. Relative Major/Minor
• D. Senza

Answer: (C)

The relationship where major and minor keys use the same key signature is called relative major/minor. They share exactly the same pitches, but start on different tonics. For example, C major and A minor both have no sharps or flats, so they share the signature; F major and D minor both have one flat, sharing that signature as well. The idea is that the minor key is the relative minor of the major key, defined by being built from the sixth degree of the major scale. The other terms listed describe tempo or character rather than how keys relate to each other, so they don’t describe this key relationship.

The relationship where major and minor keys use the same key signature is called relative major/minor. They share exactly the same pitches, but start on different tonics. For example, C major and A minor both have no sharps or flats, so they share the signature; F major and D minor both have one flat, sharing that signature as well. The idea is that the minor key is the relative minor of the major key, defined by being built from the sixth degree of the major scale. The other terms listed describe tempo or character rather than how keys relate to each other, so they don’t describe this key relationship.