What term describes major and minor keys that share the same key signature?

What term describes major and minor keys that share the same key signature?

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

Answer: (B)

Major and minor keys that use the same key signature are described as relative major and minor. In this relationship, each key has a counterpart in the opposite mode that shares the exact signature: the major key’s relative minor starts on the sixth degree of the major scale, and the minor key’s relative major is reached by moving up a major third. For example, C major and A minor share no sharps or flats; G major and E minor share one sharp; E-flat major and C minor share three flats. The other terms in the options are tempo or mood markings and don’t pertain to key signatures. So the term that describes major and minor keys sharing the same key signature is relative major/minor.

Major and minor keys that use the same key signature are described as relative major and minor. In this relationship, each key has a counterpart in the opposite mode that shares the exact signature: the major key’s relative minor starts on the sixth degree of the major scale, and the minor key’s relative major is reached by moving up a major third. For example, C major and A minor share no sharps or flats; G major and E minor share one sharp; E-flat major and C minor share three flats. The other terms in the options are tempo or mood markings and don’t pertain to key signatures. So the term that describes major and minor keys sharing the same key signature is relative major/minor.