relative major

American  

noun

Music.

1. the major key whose tonic is the third degree of a given minor key.

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Etymology

Origin of relative major

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

I can’t say that it has to be in a major key or go to the chorus to get to the relative major to get that lift, because that isn’t really what happens.

From The Guardian • Feb. 27, 2017

The pattern for the minor scale starts a half step plus a whole step lower than the major scale pattern, so a relative minor is always three half steps lower than its relative major.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

You may find it helpful to notice that the "relative major" of the Dorian begins one whole step lower.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

Even though they have the same key signature, a minor key and its relative major sound very different.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

It is rather fully developed before the second subject enters; this, on the other hand, is hardly insinuated in its relative major before the rather inelaborate elaboration begins.

From Contemporary American Composers Being a Study of the Music of This Country, Its Present Conditions and Its Future, with Critical Estimates and Biographies of the Principal Living Composers; and an Abundance of Portraits, Fac-simile Musical Autographs, and Compositions by Hughes, Rupert