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Major vs minor

The same melody can sound bright in major and dark in minor. The difference is where the half steps fall in the scale.

The two scales

CDEFGABCWWHWWWH
C major: W W H W W W H (W = whole step, H = half step)
ABCDEFGAWHWWHWW
A natural minor: the same white keys starting on A. W H W W H W W

The 3rd makes the mood

CEG
C major chord: the 3rd (E) is 4 half steps up
CGE♭
C minor chord: the 3rd (E♭) is 3 half steps up

Relative keys share the same notes

CGDAEBF♯D♭A♭E♭B♭F♯1♯2♯3♯4♯5♯6/♭6♭5♭4♭3♭2♭1AmEmBmF♯mC♯mG♯mD♯mB♭mFmCmGmDm5ths
Outer ring major, inner ring the relative minor with the same key signature: C = Am, G = Em, F = Dm.

Is my song major or minor?

  1. 1First and last chordSongs usually start and end on the home chord
  2. 2Major or minor?C → C major, Am → A minor
  3. 3Check the VMinor songs often borrow a major V (E7 in A minor)

Or let the key finder do it from your chords. See the scales on the fretboard: C major, A minor, A minor pentatonic.