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

See Examples For:

relative major

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

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

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

In a minor movement the second subject is found more often in the relative major than in the dominant minor.

From The Pianoforte Sonata Its Origin and Development by J. S. (John South) Shedlock